Bulava ballistic missile launch from brand new strategic sub in White Sea
Simultaneously as the Northern Fleet sails the largest submarine maneuverer since the days of the Cold War, the “Knyaz Vladimir” Borei-class sub for the first time launched a test missile that cross the Arctic an hit the target on Kamchatka in the Far East.
It was last week eight Russian nuclear-powered submarines sailed out from their bases on the Kola Peninsula, Norwegian media reported on Tuesday.
Two of the subs protect the entrance to the eastern Barents Sea, being located in the waters east of the Bear Island. Another two are sailing south and southwest of the Bear Island and some are further south and southwest in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea.
“For the first time with the newest strategic missile submarine “Knyaz Vladimir” of project Borey-A, test-fired a sea based Bulava ballistic missile,” the defence ministry report says.
The launch was planned and is needed for “Knyaz Vladimir” to pass its aceptancy tests before being transferred to the fleet from the Sevmash shipyard that has built the submarine.
Kura training ground, where the missile hit after crossing the skies of the Arctic, is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East of Russia.
When being launched, the submarine was submerged.
Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet, Vice-Adminral Aleksandr Moiseyev has previously told TASS that “Knyaz Vladimir” will be accepted by the navy after all weapons tests are conducted. The transfer is likely to happen in late December.
“Knyaz Vladimir” is the fourth Borei-class submarine, but the first of the upgraded version, named Borei-A. The submarine will sail for the Northern Fleet with homebase in Gadzhiyevo. This will be the second Borei-class sub with the Northern Fleet, which from before has the “Yury Dolgoruky”.
Two others, the “Aleksandr Nevsky” and “Vladimir Monomakh” are sailing for the Pacific Fleet.
