Russia's
second Borey-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the
Alexander Nevsky, successfully launched a Bulava intercontinental ballistic
missile, Russia's Ministry of Defense said in a Friday statement. The
test launch was made from the Barents Sea firing range Kura, located
on the Kamchatka Peninsula, from an underwater position. The test completes
this year's launch series. |
Ballistic
missile submarines comprise one leg of Russia’s strategic nuclear
triad, along with land-based ICBMs and the bomber force.
The Borey
is Russia’s first post-Soviet ballistic missile submarine class
and will form the mainstay of the strategic submarine fleet, replacing
aging Typhoon, Delta-3 and Delta-4 boats.
Russia ultimately
expects eight Borey-class subs to enter service by 2020. The third in
the class, the Vladimir Monomakh, is expected to start state-acceptance
trials this month. |
