The Russian Navy has successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile for a second time in as many months, proving its reliability following a troublesome development.
The Defense Ministry said the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine test-fired a Bulava missile from an underwater position in the Barents Sea. The missile's warheads reached designated targets at a testing range in Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
Like the previous Bulava launch on Oct 29, today's test was important for confirming the capability of the missile, which Russia touted as a key part of its nuclear deterrent.
The Bulava suffered many failures during a decade of tests, raising doubts about its fate. But a series of recent launches has been successful and the Navy now has three nuclear submarines armed with the Bulava.
