MOSCOW, November 28 (Sputnik) — Russia successfully test-fired on Friday a Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from its Borey-class Alexander Nevsky nuclear-powered submarine, the Defense Ministry said.
The three-stage Bulava SLBM carries up to 10 independent warheads and has a range of 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles).
Russia currently has two Borey-class boats in service — the Yury Dolgoruky and the Alexander Nevsky. A total of eight Borey-class vessels are expected to enter service before 2020.
Despite several test failures in the past, the recent launches confirmed the capability of the missile as the main armament for Russia’s Borey-class submarines that, according to the Ministry of Defense, are expected to become the backbone of the Russian Navy’s strategic nuclear deterrent force.
