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Burya La-350

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Burya on pad Credit: RKK Energia

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

• Stage 1. 2 x Burya booster. Gross Mass: 27,000 kg (59,000 lb). Empty Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). Thrust (vac): 771.700 kN (173,485 lbf). Isp: 250 sec. Burn time: 70 sec. Isp(sl): 218 sec. Diameter: 1.45 m (4.75 ft). Span: 5.20 m (17.00 ft). Length: 18.90 m (62.00 ft). Propellants: Nitric acid/Amine. No Engines: 1. Engine: S2.1150. Status: Out of production. Comments: Booster for Burya missile. Two used to boost ramjet second stage to ignition conditions. Engines developed by Isayev from R-11 S2.253 engine. Early Buryas had S2.1100 engine. Masses estimated based on known total vehicle mass.

• Stage 2. 1 x Burya. Gross Mass: 40,865 kg (90,091 lb). Empty Mass: 13,000 kg (28,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 76.000 kN (17,085 lbf). Isp: 1,500 sec. Burn time: 8,500 sec. Diameter: 2.20 m (7.20 ft). Span: 7.75 m (25.41 ft). Length: 18.00 m (59.00 ft). Propellants: Air/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-012U. Other designations: La-X, Objekt 350. Status: Out of Production. 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.

Photo Gallery

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Burya in shop

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Burya engine Burya engine guidance vanes Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya 3 View Credit: © Mark Wade

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Burya Crashing Burya Crashing in First Launch Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya Drawing Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya on erector Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya on pad Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya rollout Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya color 1 Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya color 2 Credit: Lavochkin

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Burya color 3 Credit: Lavochkin

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Navaho vs Burya Credit: © Mark Wade

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Burya 160 pixel Credit: © Mark Wade

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Burya Rollout

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Burya at dawn Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya Model Burya Chief Designers with Model Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya Burya at launch position Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya Burya's short first flight Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya launch pad Burya launch facility panorama Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya rollout Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya Burya at launch position Credit: RKK Energia

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

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

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Burya raised Burya raised to launch position Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya ascends Credit: RKK Energia

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Burya liftoff Credit: RKK Energia

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

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• Research into intercontinental missile approaches authorised. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Navaho. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On themes N1, N2, and N3 in the ballistic missile program.' was issued..

• USSR Council of Ministers approve R-7 ICBM, Buran and Burya intercontinental cruise missiles - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Korolev, Lavochkin, Myasishchev. Program: Navaho. Informal go-ahead was given for Korolev to start design work on the R-7. In parallel, Myasishchev OKB-23 and Lavochkin OKB-301 began design of intercontinental ramjet cruise missiles..

• Baikonur and Vladimirovka launch site plans. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Navaho. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On selection of launch area for the R-7, 40 Buran, and 350 Burya' was issued..

• Soviet government decree for full-scale development of trisonic intercontinental cruise missiles. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Glushko, Isayev, Korolev, Lavochkin, Myasishchev. Program: Navaho. Spacecraft: Buran M-42, Buran M-44.

  Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 957-409 'On transfer of intercontinental cruise missile work to the Ministry of Aviation Industry' was issued. Korolev had to place the highest priority on development of the R-7 ICBM. Therefore the final government decree authorised the Lavochkin and Myasishchev aircraft design bureaux 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, while Myasishchev's Buran would use Isayev engines. Both missiles were to deliver a nuclear warhead over an 8,500 km range. But the warhead design specified for the Lavochkin missile had a total mass of 2,100 kg, while that for the Myasishchev missile weighed 3,500 kg.

• Burya preliminary design completed - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Lavochkin. Program: Navaho. The Lavochkin team completed preliminary design of the intercontinental Mach 3 cruise missile..

• Lavochkin begins construction of first Burya cruise missile. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Lavochkin, Myasishchev. Program: Navaho. Myasishchev was just completing project design of his Buran design, while Lavochkin was already completing construction of the first Burya..

• Burya redesign - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Lavochkin. Program: Navaho. Lavochkin experienced a major setback in when the payload requirement for the nuclear warhead was increased from 2,100 to 2,350 kg..

• Burya first launch attempt - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

  Objective was limited to test of operation of first stage boosters. The AVD Engine Cutoff System activated on ignition due to destruction of an OT-155 propellant valve in one of the booster engines. The missile remained on the pad. The stage boosters were dismounted, checked, and reassembled.

• Burya flight 1 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

  Objective was limited to test of operation of first stage boosters. After launch, there was a premature release of the jet vanes. The missile cleared the launch tower, then immediately arced over and crashed with a huge explosion within sight of the launch pad.

• Burya flight 2 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

• Burya flight 3 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). Objective was limited to test of operation of first stage boosters. The second stage was a mass model (the tanks were filled with sand). The flight was planned to last 96 seconds..

• Further development of Burya authorised. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Navaho. State Committee for Defence Technology (GKOT) Decree 'On the Creation of the Burya Winged Missile--course of work on 40 Burya' was issued..

• Burya flight 4 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi).

  Cruise stage tanks 2 and 3 were filled with water, the engine feed tank was filled with propellant, and tanks 1 and 4 were empty. Mass was reduced by 30% from that of a fully fueled stage. The boosters were fully fueled. A slightly different turbopump was installed on the engines in comparison to earlier flights. The flight was to demonstrate simultaneous control of the missile using both aerodynamic surfaces and exhaust vanes after T+50 seconds. The flight continued to T+81 seconds, when failure of an electric circuit led to premature cutoff of the boosters.

• Burya flight 5 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  As in previous flight, cruise stage 30% below design weight, and propellant tanks mainly filled with water. The flight continued to T+120 seconds. The boosters worked normally and shut off at T+90.5 seconds, with the vehicle at 17.3 km altitude and flying at Mach 2.95-2.97. Simultaneously the ramjets of the cruise stage ignited. Stage separation was normal and the aerodynamic sensors and diffuser worked normally.

• Burya launch attempt - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). Cruise stage tanks 2 and 3 and engine feed tank all filled with fuel. Tanks 1 and 4 were empty..

• Burya flight 6 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). Launched after prior 11 June flight attempt. The booster stage was replaced. Controlled flight program ended at T+56 seconds due to damaged circuits connected to the autopilot..

• Burya flight 7 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). Cruise stage tanks 1 and 4 empty. The flight lasted only to T+96 seconds. At this point, duirng fseparation of the boost and cruise stages the vehicle became unstable and was unable to achieve level powered cruise flight..

• Burya flight 8 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi).

  Cruise stage tanks 1 and 4 empty. The boosters operated normally and the cruise stage ignited at Mach 2.95-3.0. At T+95 seconds there were problems at separation of the boosters, leading to cruise stage instability and an asymmetric airflow through the ramjet diffuser leading. This caused significant variations in thrust. The pressure in tank 3 dropped at T+160s econds and the ramjet flamed out.

• Burya flight 9 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi).

  Cruise stage tanks 1 and 4 empty. The flight continued to T+309 seconds, the longest to date, at which point the vehicle broke up due to an explosion in the empty propellant tank. The boosters operated normally but separation took place normally at Mach 3.3-3.4 (higher than expected).

• Burya launch attempt - . Nation: Russia. Program: Navaho. Erroneous operation of the AVD abort system in one of the boosters prevented launch..

• Burya flight 10 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi).

  Cruise stage tanks 1 and 4 empty. The flight continued to T+25 minutes 20 seconds over a distance of 1,315 km. Booster stage operation and separation were normal, no vibrations were detected. The cruise stage ignited but the Air Sensor System (SVD) operated abnormally. As a result there was a reduction of velocity from that planned.

• Burya flight 11 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 17 km (10 mi). Launched after prior 20 Februry flight attempt. The suspect booster was replaced. Successful flight lasting T+33.5 minutes, achieving a range of 1,766 km and a speed of Mach 3.15 at 17.0 km altitude..

• Burya flight 12 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

  First flight with propellant in tank 4 of the cruise stage. Boosters featured an improved main engines without OT-155 valve (S2.1150 replacing S2.1100). The cruise stage used the improved RD-012U ramjet in place of the previous RD-012. The first stage operated faultlessly and separation was normal without vibrations. Ignition of the cruise stage occurred at Mach 2.87 at 16.8 km altitude. The SVD Air Sensor System worked abnormally, so the decision was made to disconnect the SVD sensors and fly the mission using only the astronavigation system and hold inertial velocity to Mach 3.15-3.2. The flight continued to T+10 minutes 17 seconds and the planned flight program was completed.

• Burya cruise missile canceled. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Navaho.

  Decree 138-48 'On termination of work on the La-350 Burya at OKB-301' was issued. Project finally cancelled based on availability and invulnerability of R-7, R-9, and R-16 ICBM's. Flight test for technology purposes of already-built missiles was allowed to the end of the year.

• Burya flight 13 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). Planned to fly complete course with astronavigation system. Missile successfully flew 5,500 km..

• Burya flight 14 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). Planned to fly complete course with astronavigation system. Engine operation was rough due to high angle of attack (5-8°) of the diffuser. As a result, the flight was terminated at T+26 minutes after the missile had flown 1,500 km..

• Burya flight 15 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 25 km (15 mi).

  Planned to fly complete course from Vladimirovka to Cape Ozerniy. Launch mass of the booster stage was 97,215 kg, and that of the crusie stage 34,680 kg. The second stage ignited at Mach 2.85. The booster stage engines cut-off at Mach 3.2. Stage separation occurred normally at T+101.3 seconds. The cruise stage astronavigation system acquired its guide stars at T+114 seconds. The cruise stage began level flight at 18 km altitude. The vehicle flew along its assigned 6,500 km route for 2 hours 4 minutes at an altitude of 18-24.5 km at Mach 3.2-3.15. At T+118 minutes, with the fuel completely exhausted, the ramjet flamed out. At T+121 minutes power was transferred to the emergency batteries and the vehicle was issued a destruct command, but the rudders did not work. Flight with a steady loss of altitude continued to T+124 minutes.

• Burya flight 16 - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). Test of AN-2Sh astronavigation system capability for flight in both daytime and nighttime conditions. The missile flew a range of 6,425 km at Mach 3.1-3.2. The flight was only terminated when the cruise stage used up all of its propellant..