Two Bulava Missiles To Be Test-Fired From Borei-class Nuclear Submarine In June

Russia will perform a multiple launch of two Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles from the Borei-class nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomakh in June, TASS reported.

"It is planned that the Vladimir Monomakh will fire two Bulava ICBMs at the beginning of summer, approximately in June, from a submerged position in the White Sea towards the Kura practice range in Kamchatka," a source in the defense and industrial sector told TASS on Friday.

It was reported earlier that Russia’s Northern Fleet planned launch of multiple Bulava missiles is in 2016 but didn’t specify the time of the firing exercise or the name of the submarine for the Bulava launch.

A multiple launch of two Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles was last performed by the nuclear-powered submarine Vladimir Monomakh on November 14, 2015.

A source in the defense industry confirmed that the nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomakh armed with 16 Bulava missiles would perform its inter-sea passage to the Pacific Fleet in August-September to join the same-series Alexander Nevsky underwater cruiser, which had arrived in Kamchatka in 2015.

The submarine Vladimir Monomakh will receive a full weapons suite, only if the Bulava multiple launch is successful, according to the report.

Borei-class submarines armed with Bulava missiles are expected to make up the mainstay of Russia’s naval strategic nuclear forces in the coming decades.

Overall, Russia plans to build eight Borei-class submarines, including five undersea missile cruisers under the improved Project 955A.