Russia to test launch Bulava missile on Sept. 9-11

Russian State Commission has decided to test launch sea-based Bulava strategic missile on Sept. 9-11, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday.

"A government commission made this decision at a meeting yesterday," the agency quoted a source from the Russian space rocket industry as saying.

The commission said the rocket and the crew of the Dmitry Donskoi, a Akula (Typhoon) class submarine, were prepared for the test launch.

The test was expected to start in August, but had been postponed as those involved to carry out the tests joined the fight against wild fires in Central Russia.

Bulava, designed as a principal Russian strategic missile for sea deployment, has been test launched for six years. So far, only five out of its 12 tests were successful.

With a range of 8,000 km, Bulava carries multiple warheads with a yield of 150 kilotons each.

Source: Xinhua