Russia’s new nuclear-powered submarine Imperator Alexander III carried out a profitable check launch of the Bulava ballistic missile, designed to hold nuclear warheads, the Russian defence ministry stated on Sunday.
“Firing a ballistic missile is the ultimate ingredient of state exams, after which a call will probably be made to just accept the cruiser into the Navy,” the defence ministry stated in an announcement on the Telegram messaging app.
President Vladimir Putin has been pushing for Russia to keep up its nuclear deterrent to counter what he calls rising safety threats, as ties between Moscow and the West have hit new lows over the struggle Russia launched in Ukraine in 2022.
The intercontinental missile, launched from an underwater place within the White Sea off Russia’s northern coast, hit a goal 1000’s of kilometres away on the Kamchatka peninsula within the Russian Far East, it stated.
The ministry didn’t say when the check occurred.
The Borei class strategic-missile cruiser is supplied with 16 Bulava missiles and fashionable torpedo weapons, it stated.
Putin took half in a ceremony in December setting the Imperator Alexander III afloat, TASS state information company stated.
The navy has three nuclear-powered submarines of the Borei class in service – one is finishing exams and three extra are underneath development, the defence ministry stated.
The 12-metre (40-foot) lengthy Bulava missile, which has an estimated vary of round 8,000 km (5,000 miles) and may carry as much as six nuclear warheads, has develop into the cornerstone within the naval a part of Russia’s nuclear triad.
