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No Bulava launching from Yuri Dolgoruky carrier planned

The deployment of the Bulava missile was postponed as a result of defects found during the tests
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, August 8 (Itar-Tass) — An intercontinental ballistic missile "Bulava" which is a submarine-launched ballistic missile, will not be launched from board the strategic submarine Yuri Dolgoruky this year; instead, the missile will be launched from the Alexander Nevsky submarine of the same class which is undergoing underway trials at present, First deputy defense minister Alexander Sukhorukov told journalists on Wednesday. "There will be no launching from the Yuri Dolgoruky, we will launch the missile from the Alexander Nevsky while a commission for state trials continues its work", Sukhorukov said.

He explained that the deployment of the Bulava missile by the armed forces as well as the use of its basic carrier - the Yuri Dolgoruky submarine, was postponed as a result of defects found during the tests. “After the missile producer eliminates the defects the tests will be repeated, and the system will be checked once again. After a corresponding act is signed the submarine and its missile complex will be deployed by our Navy", Sukhorukov said.

"The Bulava as well as the Yuri Dolgoruky will be deployed by the Navy only if the state commission signs a corresponding act; for the time being no such act signed by the state commission exists," Sukhorukov explained.

The Yuri Dolgoruky and the Alexander Nevsky submarines will initially be stationed at the Northern Fleet, but afterwards they will be transferred to the Pacific Fleet. "The first two submarines will first be based at the Northern Fleet to be subsequently transferred to the Pacific Fleet as soon as the necessary infrastructure is created there," Sukhorukov said.