The missile was fired from the nuclear powered submarine Dmitry Donskoy, RIA Novosti reports.
This year’s first Bulava test launch has been postponed several times. The test launch program was put on hold after a failed launch on December 9, 2009, which was caused by a defective engine nozzle. People in large areas of Northern Norway became witnesses to the missile exploding in the sky. Out of the previous 13 test launches, 7 failed.
It has earlier been said that there will be three test launches in 2010. Two of these are to be conducted from Dmitry Donskoy, and if both are successful, the third test launch will be conducted from Russia’s newest strategic submarine, the Borey-class nuclear powered “Yury Dolgoruky”.
Yury Dolgoruky was launched in February 2008 and sailed first time out on sea trails from Severodvinsk in mid-June last year. The submarine is currently undergoing final sea tests in Arctic waters. Russia is planning to build at least eight submarines of the Borey-class.
Read all BarentsObserver articles on the Bulava missile
