Russia Successfully Test-Fires New Ballistic Missile

Bulava missile. © RIA Novosti/Avrora

Russian Military Successfully Test-Fires New Ballistic Missile -- Washington Post/AP

MOSCOW — Russia’s Defense Ministry says the navy has successfully test-fired an advanced ballistic missile from a new-generation nuclear submarine.

Ministry spokesman Col. Igor Konashenkov says the Bulava missile was launched from under the water in the White Sea that separates Russia from Scandinavia. He says its warheads reached the Kura testing range on the Pacific Kamchatka Peninsula, some 5,500 kilometers (3,500 miles) away.

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Update #1: Russia test fires troubled Bulava missile after 8-month break -- RIA Novosti
Update #2: Bulava Trial Launch Proceeds as Planned -- Global Security Newswire

My Comment: After years of problems and delays, it appears that Russia has worked out the kinks in their Bulava SLBM missile program.

Russian Bulava Missile Launches To Resume June 28

Bulava launches to resume June 28 - source © RIA Novosti. Mikhail Fomichev

Bulava Launches To Resume June 28 - Source -- RIA Novosti

A new test launch of Russia's troubled Bulava missile will be staged on June 28, a Russian Defense Ministry source said on Sunday.

Despite several previous failures, officially blamed on manufacturing defects, the Russian military has insisted that there is no alternative to the Bulava and pledged to continue testing the missile until it is ready for service with the Navy.

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My Comment: It's good to know that the U.S. is not the only country that has "lemon's" in it's defense research/development/procurement programs.

Russia Continues To Modernize Their Nuclear Forces

Russia's troubled Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile. © Сollage by RIA Novosti

Russia Set To Fire Another Bulava Missile -- Global Security Newswire

Russia plans later this week to conduct a new trial flight of its experimental Bulava submarine-based ballistic missile, Interfax reported (see GSN, Oct. 12).

"Over the next few days the state commission is expected to confirm the date for the next, 14th launch of the missile from the [ballistic-missile submarine Dmitry Donskoy]. The test is expected to be carried out on Oct. 29-30," said an official with the Russian navy's main office.

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More News On Russia's Bulava Missile Program

Next Bulava missile test scheduled October 29 -- RIA Novosti
Next Bulava launch scheduled for October 29 -- Barents Observer
Official confirms preparations for another Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile test -- Itar Tass
Russia plans to produce 150 Bulava missiles before 2020 -- Xinhuanet
Russia to produce 150 Bulava missiles before 2020 - expert -- RIA Novosti

Russian Missile Test Successful

Bulava. © Screenshot: «Вести.Ru»

Russia's Bulava Missile Succeeds in Trial Launch -- Global Security Newswire

Russia's experimental Bulava submarine-based ballistic missile in a test today delivered its payload to a target on the Kamchatka Peninsula, breaking a string of test failures involving the planned lynchpin of Moscow's future sea-based nuclear deterrent, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Oct. 5).

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More News On The Successful Test Of Russia's Bulava Missile

Bulava's new launch: 13 proved to be a lucky number -- Voice of Russia
Russia: Missile Test Successful -- Voice of America
Russia successfully tests long-range missile -- AFP
Russian military successfully tests new missile -- AP
Russian army may be equipped with Bulava missile by 2011 -- Voice of Russia

Russia Might Abandon Bulava Missile If Failures Continue

From Global Security Newswire:

Russia's might mothball its troubled Bulava nuclear-missile project if the weapon continues to fail in testing, Reuters reported today (see GSN, Aug. 4).

The long-range, submarine-launched Bulava has been the subject of much internal debate since failing its sixth test in 11 tries last month. The botched flight prompted the resignation of a leading Russian missile design official and possibly the discharge of the head of the Russian military's strategic missile forces.

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More News On Bulava's Missile Development

Russia could scrap troubled sea missile: report -- Reuters
Russian submarine designer certain of Bulava missile success -- RIA Novosti
“Bulava” missiles might be replaced by “Sineva” -- Barents Observer
Rubin design bureau official: tests of Bulava missile system will be successful -- Kyiv Post

My Comment: This is a major setback.