Global Security Newswire

A Russian Borei-class ballistic missile submarine is slated to finish sea testing on Thursday, an insider at the vessel's production site told RIA Novosti (see GSN, May 2).

"The Yuri Dolgoruky will complete an initial sea trial on June 7. If all testing goes successfully, the boat will be accepted into service in the near future," the Sevmash shipyard insider said on Tuesday.

Borei-class vessels are to be loaded with the new nuclear-capable Bulava missile. The weapon, which has a troubled testing history, is scheduled for another trial launch in 2012 from the submarine Alexander Nevsky. Both the vessel and the missile could be placed on active duty if the trial goes as planned (see GSN, May 11; RIA Novosti, June 6).