Russia hopes this year to wrap up flight tests of its Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile, Interfax reported yesterday (see GSN, June 3).
Moscow had previously indicated that testing of the weapon would stretch into 2010. Half of the 10 flight tests since 2003 have ended in failure, media reports indicate.
"Our task is to complete the Bulava flight trials this year," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin said yesterday (Interfax, June 17).