Russia tests Bulava intercontinental missile from nuclear submarine

The Russian Defense Ministry said the missile was launched from an underwater position in the White Sea off northern Russia and hit its target, thousands of kilometers away, on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East.

“The ballistic missile launch is the final step in the nation’s test program, and then a decision will be made on integrating the missile into the Navy’s arsenal.”

The missile is designed to carry six nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists .

Russian sources said that Imperator Alexander III is the seventh submarine in the Borei (Arctic Wind) class nuclear submarines of Project 955 (Russia) and the fourth in the series of modernized Borei-A model ships.

The submarines are designated by NATO as Dolgoruky-class submarines, named after the Yuri Dolgoruky, Russia's first new-generation nuclear submarine since the end of the Cold War.

The Borei-class submarine is equipped with 16 Bulava missiles. The missile is 12 meters long and has a range of 8,000 km.

Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense/Via Reuters.

Since taking office in 1999, President Vladimir Putin has steadily increased defense spending, aiming to rebuild nuclear and conventional forces following the chaos of the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.

The war in Ukraine has led to the worst crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Mr Putin said last month that he was not ready to say whether Russia would resume nuclear testing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview on Sunday that Russia's relations with the United States are at "below zero".

“Relations are at zero – or I would even say below zero,” he said, adding that there would be a time in the future when the leaders of Russia and the United States could restore relations.

“Mr. Putin has repeatedly affirmed that he is ready to accept communication.”

Russia is aiming to build a total of 10 to 12 Borei-class submarines divided equally between the Northern and Pacific fleets, according to plans revealed by Russian media.

Three more Borei-class ships are also under construction: the Knyaz Pozharsky, the Dmitry Donskoy and the Knyaz Potemkin. Two more are in the planning stages.

Nguyen Quang Minh (Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/nga-thu-nghiem-ten-lua-xuyen-luc-dia-bulava-tu-tau-ngam-hat-nhan-a634444.html