Global General

Russia test launches missile from submarine

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-04 23:32

MOSCOW – Russia on Thursday successfully test-launched a Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine.

The missile was launched at 07:50 am Moscow time (0450 GMT) from the Tula submarine in the Barents Sea, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

The Sineva already in service is a liquid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile, designed for Delta IV-class submarines, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.

The Sineva is seen as a rival to the troublesome Bulava, a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant ballistic missile designed for deployment on Borey-class submarines.

By now, seven of the 12 test-launches of the Bulava missile have been reported as unsuccessful.

Further development of the missile has been questioned by some legislators and defense experts, but the military insisted there was no alternative to the Bulava and pledged to continue testing the missile until it was ready to be put into service with the Navy.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last September one of the most import issues for the Russian Armed Forces was to rebuild the Navy in the coming decade.

He also said last March the armed forces would undergo comprehensive rearmament beginning in 2011.