Article Posted on : - Dec 18, 2008

File photo of Russia's Bulava missile test launch. Photo credit: RIA Novosti

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia will take a call on inducting the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles in its naval forces after carrying out a series of trials next year.

“Tests would continue for some time to carry forward the induction process,” a senior Russian naval official told RIA Novosti news agency.

Another test is scheduled for later this month and there would be many more next year.

The agency reported top naval officials as saying that tests would also be carried out from the Yury Dolgoruky nuclear submarine and the Bulava missile system will eventually be fitted on the submarines after clearing the tests.

"Next year, we plan to hold another three or four launches, including from the Yury Dolgoruky nuclear submarine, which may be equipped with this system in the future," a high-ranking member of the Navy's general staff was quoted as saying.

Referring to media reports, the official also clarified that the Akula-class project 941 nuclear submarines would not carry these missiles.

At the moment, other systems are being considered for the Akula-class project 941 and Bulava does not fit into the scheme of things. Russia has made an elaborate plan to induct a new sea launched missile in the navy by next year.

Bulava was last tested on November 28 when its sea-launched variant was fired from Dmitry Donskoi Typhoon-class nuclear submarine. The test took place in the White Sea and was declared a success after the missile managed to hit target located 6,700 km away on the Kamchatka peninsula facing Japan.

It is a nuclear capable missile which can carry up to 10 warheads. It has a range of 8,000 km and is designed to be deployed on Borey-class project 955 nuclear submarines.

Yury Dolgoruky is the first submarine in the class. Built at Sevmash shipyard, where aircraft carrier for India admiral Gorshkov is being retroffited, the submarine is 170 metres long. It can cruise at 29 knots under water.

Russia has an active missile deployment programme. By next year, it is expected to include new missiles in its arsenal. These missiles are undergoing tests and are at various stages of deployment.