Article Posted on : - Nov 28, 2014

A file photo of Bulava test firing.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russian Navy's second Borey-class strategic nuclear-powered submarine Alexander Nevsky will test launch the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 30, according to media report.

"According to updated reports, the Alexander Nevsky is due to test-launch Bulava in a time interval between 12.00 and 3pm Moscow time (9 am -12.00 GMT) on November 30.

"The test-launch will be made from the Barents Sea at the Kura firing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula from a submerged position," Itar-Tass news agency reported, quoting a source in the Navy's Northern Fleet headquarters.

The Alexander Nevsky had last tested the Bulava in Sept. 2013 but the firing had ended in failure.

Two Borey-class submarines -- the Yuri Dolgoruky and Vladimir Monomakh -- have already test launched the long-range Bulava successfully this year on October 29 and September 10 respectively.

The Yuri Dolgoruky, the lead ship of the Project 955 Borey-class submarine, carried out the launch with a full load of Bulava missiles on board.

The Vladimir Monomakh is the third submarine of the class. The Russian Navy plans to induct eight Borey-class subs by 2020.

The R30 3M30 Bulava (designation RSM-56, NATO reporting name SS-NX-30) is Russia's newest three-stage solid-fuel missile specifically designed to arm the Borey class strategic submarines.

The missile is capable of carrying up to 10 hypersonic manoeuvering and individually targeting nuclear warheads with variable altitude and course trajectories and destroying targets at a range of 8,000 kilometers.

In line with the plan for 2015, two more launches of the sea-based Bulava are planned to be conducted, the military spokesperson said.