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Date for next Bulava firing not set yet due to tech problems

The automatic control system is being adjusted, the minister said

MOSCOW, September 21 (Itar-Tass) — Problems in the software of the automatic system to control firing of Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles from Borey-type nuclear-powered submarines do not allow setting a date for the next firing, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told reporters on Friday.

Earlier, a high-ranking representative of the United Shipbuilding Corporation said that the next Bulava firing from the Alexander Nevsky submarine according to the state test schedule is planned for November. It will be the first firing from the Alexander Nevsky. Formerly, Bulavas were fired from the nuclear submarines Yuri Dolgoruky of Project 955 (Borey) and Dmitry Donskoi of Project 941 UM (Akula).

There are technical problems connected with the software. The automatic control system is being adjusted, the minister said, adding that they hoped a Bulava missile would be successfully fired from the Alexander Nevsky submarine until the end of this year.