First successful test of Russia’s sea based intercontinental missile, Moscow to boost its defence spending by 25 per cent

08:48 GMT, September 23, 2008 Last week a Bulava ballistic missile was launched from the submerged strategic submarine Dmitry Donskoi, Russian news agencies ITAR TASS and RIA Novosti concurrently reported, citing Defence Ministry officials. In its first successful test the Russian missile reached its designated target at Kura testing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the country’s far east.

The Bulava (SS-NX-30) which has been under development by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology was first scheduled for completion in 2006, is now expected to enter service early 2009. The missiles will be carried by Russia’s fourth generation Borey-class nuclear powered submarines which will form the centrepiece of Moscow’s strategic submarine fleet. The first out of eight submarines of this class, costing €608 million ($900 million) each, will join Russia’s Navy soon and can be equipped with up to 16 missiles of this kind, each carrying up to ten individually targeted nuclear warheads and having a range of 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles).

The sea-based version of Russia’s Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile was designed to overcome any existing or planned missile defence shield. According to ITAR TASS the missile has “a good evasive manoeuvring capability, mid-course countermeasures and warheads fully shielded against physical and EMP damage.” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin therefore feels confident that the Bulava have the capability of penetrating any potential anti-missile system.


Russia’s defence spending raises by 25 percent

The Bulava test launch comes at a time the United States are signing a contract with the Czech Republic to locate their missile-tracking radar at the former communist country’s soil. Russia showed a similar reaction when Washington signed its missile interceptor deal with Poland last month. As an explicit response it conducted a test launch of its upgraded Topol RS-12M intercontinental missile that is also rumoured to break through the American missile defence.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told ‘Times Online’ that the Georgian war showed that Russia had to modernize its military as "one of our top priorities". Meanwhile Russia's Duma on Friday approved a 25 per cent increase in defence spending for 2009 from $40 billion to $50 billion. The country’s three-year budget forecast includes further increases to $54.5 billion in 2010 and to $58 billion by 2011.

"We will be consistently strengthening our national security, modernising the army and enhancing the defence capability to a sufficient level," President Medvedev said.