Next test of Russia's Bulava missile set for Aug. 27

A state commission has scheduled the next test launch of the Bulava ballistic missile for August 27, a source in the commission told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. The launch from the Borey class Yury Dolgoruky strategic submarine was originally planned for August 20, but was postponed until the submarine was ready for the next round of missile tests. "The members of the state commission have decided to resume the tests of the Bulava missile and set August 27 as the date for the next test launch for its maximum range from the Yury Dolgoruky nuclear submarine," the source said. Russia has carried out 15 test launches of the Bulava. Only eight of them were successful. The first test launch of the Bulava from the Yuri Dolgoruky was conducted on June 28, 2011. Before that the missiles were fired from the Typhoon class Dmitry Donskoy submarine. The Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). The three-stage missile is specifically designed for deployment on Borey class nuclear submarines. The Russian military is planning to conduct four additional tests of the missile before putting it into service by the end of 2011.