Russia Test Fires New Bulava Submarine-Based Advanced ICBM

Russia on Saturday test-fired its new Bulava solid-fueled advanced Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Yury Dolgoruky submarine, from the Barents Sea, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Moscow also launched Sineva ICBM from Tula submarine as part of combat training from the polar region of the Arctic Ocean.

“The Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) hit targets at training grounds in the northern Arkhangelsk region and on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East. During the launches the specified technical characteristics of submarine ballistic missiles and the efficiency of all systems of ship missile systems were confirmed,” the ministry said.

The RSM-56 Bulava has been deployed in 2013 on the new Borei class of ballistic missile nuclear submarines, each of which can carry 16 missiles. The operational range of the missile is about 8000km.

A source in the Russian defense industry told TASS in June 2018 that the D-30 missile system with the R-30 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile had been accepted for service in the Russian Navy after its successful four-missile salvo launch tests in 2018.

The Sineva liquid-fueled ICBM can carry four warheads and is designed to be launched from Delta IV class submarines, which are armed with 16 missiles each. As of 2017, there are 96 launchers deployed on the submarines. The missile has maximum operational range of about 8,300km. The first full-range test was reportedly conducted on October 11, 2008; the reported range was 11,547 kilometers (7,174 miles). The R-29RMU Sineva entered service in 2007 and is expected to remain in service until at least 2030.