An experimental Russian sea-based ballistic missile was not tested as expected yesterday due to technical issues and other difficulties, RIA Novosti reported (see GSN, Oct. 30).
A defense sector source said yesterday that the test-firing of the submarine-launched Bulava missile would occur before the end of the year. Moscow had previously postponed the test at the end of last month.
"The Defense Ministry and the manufacturer still have a number of issues, including technical, to resolve before the Bulava can be tested again sometime by year's end," the source said.
The missile has failed in six of 11 tests so far, most recently in July.
Built to equip the country's Borei-class submarines, the missile is designed to carry as many as 10 individually targeted nuclear warheads up to 5,000 miles. The Bulava's development has taken up almost half of Russia's defense acquisitions budget.
Moscow views the missile as a critical component of the country's nuclear arsenal, but critics have advocated that Russia concentrate instead on its existing submarine-launched ballistic missile, the Sineva (RIA Novosti, Nov. 24).