MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian defense industry has decided to conduct one more test launch of a Bulava advanced sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile before the end of the year, a Russian Navy Main Staff source told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
"The preliminary information available to us confirms that a Bulava salvo test launch will be carried out from the Yury Dolgoruky missile carrying submarine within the period from December 25 to December 29 this year. A launch date will be set by a state commission at the beginning of next week," he said.
The authorities initially planned to postpone Bulava trials until 2012, the source said.
"But the defense industry has created all of the conditions needed to conduct a Bulava salvo launch. It concerns this missile itself, its carrier and ground-based infrastructure," he said.