Russia to resume test launches of Bulava missile in August
Test launches of Russia’s ill-fated Bulava ballistic missile will resume between August 9 and 12, a defense industry source said on Thursday.
-Preparations for the next test launch have been completed. If the launch is a success, tests will be conducted more often, the source said to RIA Novosti, adding that at least three launches would be conducted before the end of the year.
A source close to the government commission probing the incident said last Friday the failure of the Bulava’s latest test launch, from the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine in the White Sea on December 9, 2009, was caused by a defective engine nozzle.
The missile launched in December exploded and caused a giant spiral shaped light visible from large parts of Northern Norway.
After this, all further Bulava test launches were put on hold pending the results of a government commission probe.
Read all the BarentsObserver articles on the Bulava missile tests and development.
