Article Posted on : - Nov 29, 2008

Russia carried out another test of the bulava missile. RIA Novosti photo

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia carried out another test launch of a Bulava Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from the Dmitry Donskoi Typhoon-class strategic nuclear-powered submarine, a source in the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

Russian agency RIA Novosti quoting the source said that the Bulava missile was launched from a submerged position in the White Sea toward a target located at the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula. “It had successfully engaged its designated target on the Kamchatka Peninsula about 6,700 km (4,200 miles) east of Moscow,” the source said.

The last test of the Bulava missile was carried out on September 18. It is given to understand that Russia is planning to induct the new Bulava missiles into the Navy and commission the first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine in 2009. The Bulava (SS-NX-30), developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, is designed for deployment on Borey-class Project 955 nuclear-powered submarines, the agency said.

RIA Novosti, giving details about the first submarine in the series, the Yury Dolgoruky, said it was built at the Sevmash shipyard in the northern Arkhangelsk Region and is currently undergoing sea trials. It has a length of 170 meters (580 feet), a body diameter of around 13 meters (42 feet), and a submerged speed of about 29 knots. It will be equipped with 16 Bulava ballistic missiles, each carrying up to 10 nuclear warheads and having a range of 8,000 km (5,000 miles), it said.