Russia successfully tests missile able to penetrate US defense shield

Vineri, 19 septembrie 2008, 13:58 English | Regional Europe

Russia has successfully tested the Bulava multi-warhead missile, able to penetrate the US anti-missile shield, AFP informs, quoted by NewsIn. "The Bulava missile was launched from the submerged Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine in the White Sea, and its warheads hit a designated target at a military range on the far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, Navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said in a statement", Associated Press informs.

With an 8,000 kilometers range, the Bulava missile can be equipped with up to ten nuclear warheads, each with an independent trajectory. Russian officials claim that the rocket is able to penetrate all existing and future anti-missile systems".

The Bulava missile should ensure the Russian strategic stability until the middle of the 21st century, said Yuri Solomonov, the designer of the missile.

Bulava is, in fact, a modified and sophisticated version of the ground-ground Topol-M missile.