Article Posted on : - Dec 28, 2011

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia has completed flight tests of the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile and it is ready to enter service with the Navy, President Dmitry Medvedev has said.

"We have made a very important step - we have completed the cycle of flight tests of the Bulava missile. Now it will be put into service," a Ria Novosti report quoted the President as saying.

The Russian military successfully test launched two intercontinental nuclear-capable missiles on Friday.

The Bulava missiles were fired from a submarine in the White Sea on Russia's northwest coast. The firing marks the fourth successful launch this year from the Yury Dolgoruky, which was built to carry the missile.

In all, 18 Bulava missile tests have been carried out since 2005 but only 11 of those were successful, according to reports.

The Bulava, also known as the Mace or SS-NX-30, can travel at least 8,000 kilometres and is equipped to carry multiple warheads that can each maneuver to hit separate targets.