Russia has conducted a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from a new nuclear submarine amid heightened tensions with the West.
The strategic nuclear submarine Emperor Alexander III fired a Bulava missile while submerged in the White Sea, striking a target in the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The test comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine.
The Emperor Alexander III is one of Russia’s new Borei-class nuclear submarines, each carrying 16 Bulava missiles. Russia currently has three Borei-class subs in service, one undergoing final testing, and three more under construction.
This successful launch demonstrates Russia’s continued investment in modernizing its nuclear deterrent and underwater launch capabilities even while engaged in a major surface war. It sends a clear message about the potency and readiness of Russia’s seaborne nuclear forces during a period of geopolitical volatility.
