The Tula nuclear-powered submarine of the Northern Fleet has successfully test-fired the Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Barents Sea aiming at the Kura range in Kamchatka, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
“The sea-based ballistic missile launch was conducted from a submerged position. According to telemetric data, the missile’s warheads hit the Kura range target at the set time,” the ministry said.
This is the second ICBM launch from a nuclear submarine over the past week. On October 29, the Bulava ICBM was launched from the Borey-class submarine Yuriy Dolgoruky (Project 955). Bulava’s warheads also successfully hit a training target at the Kura range.
The strategic nuclear-powered submarine cruiser Tula of the Northern Fleet forces was built at the Sevmash shipyard in 1987. The submarine underwent modernization at the Severodvinsk-based Zvedochka shipyard. The modernization that included 100 items improved the submarine’s stealth characteristics, improved its radio-electronic weapon systems, upgraded the vessel’s survival and nuclear safety systems. Tula is armed with the Sineva missile system.
The Defense Ministry said the Tula submarine has repeatedly performed long-term mission tasks in strategically important World Ocean areas, including high-latitude Arctic areas.