Article Posted on : - Nov 17, 2011

Russian Navy had successfully tested the Bulava missile from the Yuri Dolgoruky submarine in the White Sea on Oct 28. A Russian MoD photo

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia plans to conduct a salvo launch of its long-range Bulava ballistic missile by the end of this month.

The fourth and last test-firing of the nuclear-capable Bulava missile for this year is expected to take place by the end of November, Ria Novosti news agency reported citing a defence industry source.

"It will be a salvo launch from the Yury Dolgoruky strategic submarine, and it will involve at least two missiles," the source was quoted as saying.

Russia had successfully tested the Bulava on October 28 which was the third test-launch of the missile this year.

The 37 tonne inter-continental missile was test fired from the Yury Dolgoruky submarine in the White Sea and hit its designated target on the Kamchatka Peninsula some 6,000 kilometres to the east.

The first test firing of Bulava from the Yuri Dolgoruky submarine took place in June 2011 followed by another launch in August.

The Bulava missile, with a range of over 8,000 kilometers, is capable of carrying up to 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads that can hit separate targets.

The strategic missile is being developed to equip the Russian military with advanced defence capabilities. The three-stage missile will be deployed on Russia's new Borey class nuclear submarines.