Sputnik International:

The sea launch of a Bulava ballistic missile will be made by Russia’s strategic nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomakh by the end of the year, a high ranking Navy source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

The Borey-class submarine, the backbone of Russia’s marine nuclear forces, has been equipped with 16 Bulava ballistic missiles, which can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads with an operational range of up to 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles).

“The exact launch date of the missile has not yet been determined but it will happen by the end of the year from the Vlamimir Monomakh submarine,” the source said.

In December 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of maintaining the country’s nuclear deterrence capabilities due to the growing number of security challenges.

The Russian Navy operates three Borey-class submarines, the flag ship Yury Dolgoruky, Alexandr Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh. The Vladimir Monomakh was officially inducted into the Russian Navy in December 2014.

By 2020, the Russian Navy plans to operate a total of eight Borey-class ballistic missile submarines, which will serve until 2050, according to General Director of the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering, Igor Vilnit.
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