Russia Tests Submarine-Launched ICBM

Russia yesterday conducted a successful test launch of its new nuclear-capable Bulava ICBM, Reuters reported (see GSN, April 16).

A submarine in the White Sea fired the missile, which flew thousands of miles over Russia and landed on the Kamchatka Peninsula, according to Russian news agencies.

“It all went off without a glitch at all stages of the launch,” said Russian navy spokesman Igor Dygalo.  “The dummy warhead of the missile hit its target at a testing site,” he added.

The successful Bulava test came after recent setbacks.  Last October, a Bulava missile tumbled into the sea after a few minutes in flight.  Russian officials initially reported the flight as satisfactory before acknowledging the dud (see GSN, Feb. 5).

The Russian military designed the Bulava as its version of  the U.S. Trident submarine missile, according to the Russian media.  It is intended to be carried by Borei-class nuclear submarines, the first of which launched in April (see GSN, April 16; Reuters/Khaleej Times, June 28).

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