Russia successfully launches ballistic missile

The Russian Northern Fleet's nuclear-powered submarine on Friday successfully launched a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea in combat training, navy press service said.

The RSM-54 missile was fired from the submarine at 10:25 Moscow time (0625 GMT) from the Barents Sea in the direction of the Kura testing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the press service said.

"The missile's warhead arrived at the range exactly at the planned time," it said.

"The successful launch confirmed the high readiness of the maritime strategic nuclear forces and the efficiency of the tactical control system," the press release said.

The launch of the sea-based missile has been the second of its kind so far this year.

The first was launched on May 26, when the Northern Fleet shot into space a Kompas-2 satellite on the carrier rocket Shtil.

Source: Xinhua