Russia test-fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile

Russia's federal space agency has announced the successful test firing of a strategic missile from a Russian Navy submarine in the Arctic.

According to the space agency, Tula, a Delta VI-class submarine launched the liquid-propellant ballistic missile called Sineva from the Barents Sea at 0450 GMT on Thursday.

Delta IV submarines can carry up to 16 missiles, while the intercontinental missile is reported to be capable of carrying up to 10 nuclear warheads.

NATO refers to the missile as SS-N-23 Skiff. It has been in service with the Russian military since 2007.

This is while a handful of accidents were reported with the other Russian-developed submarine-launched missile, Bulava.

In December, the 12th test-launch of the Bulava from the White Sea caused a UFO frenzy in Norway when it failed for the seventh time. The failure resulted in an eerie turquoise glow seen by hundreds of Norwegians.

Moscow has announced plans for a large-scale nuclear rearmament and is seeking to update its military technology.

Observers reiterate that the continued testing and development of nuclear arms by major powers take place without any expression of concern by any international body. Such efforts come as these nuclear powers demand that other nations forgo any thought of nuclear technology, let alone the weaponry that they possess themselves.

Iran, which has been threatened with international sanctions by major nuclear powers over its enrichment efforts for its medical and industrial needs, has repeatedly called for the elimination of all nuclear arms stockpiles, development, testing and production.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120055§ionid=351020602.