Test program of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava for 2011 is planned in a way providing its commissioning by the end of the year, said deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin yesterday at the international defense exhibition IDEX-2011 in Adu Dhabi. "The test program for this year provides putting the missile into service in the end of 2011", said Popovkin answering the question of ITAR-TASS. "Number of launches will meet the demanding reliability factor 0.99-0.98", he aded.
SLBM Bulava is the newest Russian three-staged solid-fuel missile designed for prospective Borei class nuclear-powered ballistic missile subs.
The missile is capable to carry up to ten hypersonic independently-targetable nuclear warheads maneuvering in altitude and course. Bulava will make the basis of Russia's prospective strategic nuclear force till 2040-2045.
