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Burya La-350
Burya on pad
Burya on pad
Credit: RKK Energia
A government decree on 20 May 1954 authorized the Lavochkin aircraft design bureau to proceed with full-scale development of the Burya trisonic intercontinental cruise missile. Burya launches began in July 1957. The project was cancelled, but the team was allowed final tests in 1961 that demonstrated a 6,500 km range at Mach 3.2 with the 2,350 kg payload. In cancelling Burya the Russians gave up technology that Lavochkin planned to evolve into a manned shuttle-like recoverable launch vehicle.

AKA: La-350;La-X;Object 350. Status: Retired 1960. First Launch: 1957-08-01. Last Launch: 1960-12-16. Number: 18 . Thrust: 1,346.00 kN (302,592 lbf). Gross mass: 94,865 kg (209,141 lb). Height: 22.00 m (72.00 ft). Diameter: 2.20 m (7.20 ft). Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

A final government decree on 20 May 1954 authorized the Lavochkin and Myasishchev aircraft design bureaus to proceed in parallel with full-scale development of trisonic intercontinental cruise missiles. Both missiles would use ramjet engines by Bondaryuk, astronavigation systems by R Chachikyan, inertial navigation systems by G Tolstoysov, and aerodynamics developed by TsAGI (Central Hydrodynamics Institute). Lavochkin's Burya would use rocket booster engines built by Glushko. Lavochkin's missile was to deliver a nuclear warhead of 2,100 kg over an 8,500 km range.

The TsAGI configuration for the cruise stage was of conventional layout, with a thin profile 70 degree swept arrow wing mounted at mid-fuselage. The fuselage itself was cylindrical and area-ruled, with the classic ramjet shock cone in a nose intake. The astronavigation and guidance systems were mounted in a dorsal fairing. The star scanners of the system looked out through quartz windows.

The Lavochkin design used two rocket boosters derived from the R-11 'Scud' tactical missile. The Burya had a length of 19.9 m, a wingspan of 7.75 m, and a total design mass of 96 metric tons. The Lavochkin team was able to lead in the development, with preliminary design being completed in September 1955. By 1956 Myasishchev was just completing project design, while Lavochkin was already completing construction of the first missile. Then Lavochkin experienced a major setback in September 1956, when the payload requirement was increased from 2,100 to 2,350 kg.

However the team persevered and production of flight test units began at Kuibyshev Aviation Factory 18. The missile transporter-erector was developed by Vladimir Petrov at KB TM. The elaborate launch facility was built at Vladimirovka, the Air Force test base south of Kapustin Yar.

In the race to get in the air between Buran and Burya, Burya was launched first, in July 1957. The missile cleared the launch tower, then immediately arced over and crashed with a huge explosion within sight of the launch pad. But events now conspired against the project. The equivalent US Navaho was cancelled ten days later. Korolev's R-7 ICBM completed its first successful test flight in August. Myasishchev's Buran was being prepared for its first flight when that project was cancelled in November 1957. The Soviet leadership did not see any need for continued development of a parallel ramjet design.

However development tests of the Burya continued. The first four tests worked out the vehicle dynamics up to the point of ignition of the cruise stage. By the 14th launch, on 2 December 1960, a 4000 km range was achieved. Later 6,500 km was achieved with cruise at Mach 3.2 with the 2,350 kg payload. Total missile mass as actually flown was 97,215 kg .

Then the axe fell on Burya as well. With development of ICBM's going well, and improvements in surface-to-air missiles, the intercontinental ramjet looked expensive and vulnerable by comparison. The Burya cancellation was a hard blow to the Lavochkin team. In cancelling Burya the Russians gave up technology that Lavochkin planned to evolve into a manned shuttle-like recoverable launch vehicle.

Stage Data - Burya



Subtopics

Burya Ramjet missile stage. Boosted by 2 x R-11 derivative boosters. 6,500 km tested, 8,000 km specified, cruise at Mach 3.2 at 18-20 km altitude with 2,350 kg warhead. Flight tested 1957 - 1960. Wing area 60 square meters; diameter of ramjet inlet 1.7 m. Total missile mass 97,215 kg; gross masses prorated, empty masses estimated.

Family: ICCM. Country: Russia. Engines: S2.1150, RD-012U. Launch Sites: Kapustin Yar, Kapustin Yar VLAD. Stages: Burya booster, Burya. Agency: Lavochkin bureau. Bibliography: 2, 344, 456, 474, 83, 95.
Photo Gallery

Burya in shopBurya in shop


Burya engineBurya engine
Burya engine guidance vanes
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya 3 ViewBurya 3 View
Credit: © Mark Wade


Burya CrashingBurya Crashing
Burya Crashing in First Launch
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya DrawingBurya Drawing
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya on erectorBurya on erector
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya on padBurya on pad
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya rolloutBurya rollout
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya color 1Burya color 1
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya color 2Burya color 2
Credit: Lavochkin


Burya color 3Burya color 3
Credit: Lavochkin


Navaho vs BuryaNavaho vs Burya
Credit: © Mark Wade


Burya 160 pixelBurya 160 pixel
Credit: © Mark Wade


Burya RolloutBurya Rollout


Burya at dawnBurya at dawn
Credit: RKK Energia


Burya ModelBurya Model
Burya Chief Designers with Model
Credit: RKK Energia


BuryaBurya
Burya at launch position
Credit: RKK Energia


BuryaBurya
Burya's short first flight
Credit: RKK Energia


Burya launch padBurya launch pad
Burya launch facility panorama
Credit: RKK Energia


Burya rolloutBurya rollout
Credit: RKK Energia


BuryaBurya
Burya at launch position
Credit: RKK Energia


BuryaBurya
Burya at launch position - side view
Credit: RKK Energia


Burya rolled outBurya rolled out
Burya rolled out under tarpaulin
Credit: RKK Energia


Burya raisedBurya raised
Burya raised to launch position
Credit: RKK Energia


Burya ascendsBurya ascends
Credit: RKK Energia


Burya liftoffBurya liftoff
Credit: RKK Energia


BuryaBurya
Burya in vertical position - side view
Credit: RKK Energia



1950 December 4 - . Launch Vehicle: Buran M, Burya La-350.
1953 April - . Launch Vehicle: Buran M, Burya La-350.
1954 March 17 - . Launch Vehicle: Buran M, Burya La-350.
1954 May 20 - . Launch Vehicle: Buran M, Burya La-350.
1955 September - . Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1956 During the Year - . Launch Vehicle: Buran M, Burya La-350.
1956 September - . Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1957 August 1 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350. FAILURE: Launch abort..
1957 September 1 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350. FAILURE: Premature release of the jet vanes - missile cleared the launch tower, then arced over and crashed.
1957 October 30 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350. FAILURE: Failure.
1958 March 21 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350. FAILURE: The flight continued only to T+63 seconds. Severe vibrations were encountered and the missile was unstable in flight. At T+60 seconds, the autopilot put the missile into a dive..
1958 March 24 - . Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1958 April 28 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350. FAILURE: Failure of an electric circuit led to premature cutoff of the boosters.
1958 May 22 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1958 June 11 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350. FAILURE: The AVD Engine Cutoff System activated at T+6 seconds due to a problem in one of the chambers of the boosters. Launch did not occur..
1958 July 3 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1958 July 13 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1958 September 10 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1958 December 28 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350. FAILURE: Vehicle broke up due to an explosion in the empty propellant tank..
1959 February 20 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Pad: Burya. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1959 March 29 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1959 April 19 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1959 October 2 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1960 February 5 - . Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1960 February 20 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1960 March 6 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1960 March 23 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.
1960 December 16 - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar VLAD. Launch Vehicle: Burya La-350.

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