New Bulava tests this summer
There will be at least two launches from the strategic submarine “Dmitry Donskoy” next summer. If the tests are successful, the program will be continued from the newly constructed nuclear submarine “Yury Dolgoruky”.
Russia’s new submarine-launched ballistic missile Bulava will be test-launched again this summer, web site Regions.ru reports, citing a source in the Russian Navy General Headquarters. Out of 13test launches so far, 7 have failed.
The test program was interrupted in December, after yet another failed launch of the missile. This time, the people in large areas of Northern Norway became witnesses to the missile exploding in the sky.
The Bulava missile is designed for the “Borei” class submarines, the fourth generation nuclear subs, the first of which are now being tested in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast. This vessel, the “Yury Dolgoruky”, will be the flagship in the Russian submarine fleet. Another two vessels of the kind is under construction in the yard. The keel to a fourth submarine was planned to be laid down in December, but instead the program was frozen after the last failed missile launch.
All test launches of the Bulava missile have been conducted by the modified Typhoon class submarine Dmitry Donskoy.
