Article Posted on : - Jun 26, 2011

A file photo.

MOSCOW (PTI): Russia will hold a test launch of its next generation ballistic nuclear missiles for the naval submarines next week, according to a media report Sunday.

"The decision to hold a test launch of the Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile on June 28 was taken by the State Commission for Flight Testing on Saturday," RIA Novosti quoted a defence ministry source as saying.

The launch will take place from a standard carrier, the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine, in the Barents Sea.

The Bulava (Mace) missile carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles).

So far it has displayed only 50 per cent reliability and Russia is planning to conduct at least four more Bulava test launches this year before deploying the missile on its new Borey class strategic submarines.