MOSCOW, October 17. /TASS/. The Smolensk nuclear-powered submarine of Russia’s Northern Fleet has launched a cruise missile at a target in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, in the Arctic, the Northern Fleet’s spokesman Vadim Serga has said.

"The missile was launched on October 16 against a combined coastal target. The Granit cruise missile was fired from a surface position in high latitudes of the Barents Sea. For the first time ever the missile was used against a combination of targets deep inside the Severny (Northern) island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago," he said.

The missile launch was part of the final series of combat training exercises due in 2016, Serga said, adding that the crew displayed "professionalism and high level of training."

All in all Russia has built eleven submarines of project 949A Antey. At the moment eight are on active duty. The Antey’s displacement is 24,000 tonnes. Each carries 24 launchers for Granit cruise missiles and six torpedo tubes.