Article Posted on : - Nov 03, 2009

A file photo of Bulava missile test.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia has set November 24 as the latest launch date of its troubled Bulava missile which had resulted in failure during its last test-fire in July this year.

The submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) will be test-fired on November 24 from the Dmitry Donskoi nuclear-powered submarine in the North Sea, a defence industry official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti on Monday.

The Typhoon-class submarine, based at a naval facility in northern Russia's Severodvinsk, is the only vessel in service with the Russian Navy capable of testing the new missile.

Russian military has insisted on developing Bulava SLBM as the core of its nuclear triad despite the missile being failed several times during its test trials. Russia has pledged to continue testing the missile till it is fully ready for induction in its Navy.

Bulava carries up to 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers. The three-stage ballistic missile is designed for deployment on Borey-class nuclear-powered submarines.