In a significant move for its naval capabilities, Russia has successfully conducted a critical test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from its latest addition to the nuclear-powered submarine fleet. The strategic missile cruiser, christened Imperator Alexander III, executed the launch of the Bulava missile from beneath the waves of the northern White Sea, with the projectile reaching its designated target on the Kamchatka peninsula, a considerable distance away. The specifics of the timing for this underwater missile exercise remain undisclosed.
The launch’s payload, the Bulava missile, is engineered to be equipped with up to six nuclear warheads, a fact corroborated by insights from the Federation of American Scientists as mentioned by Reuters. The Imperator Alexander III stands as a potent maritime force, forming part of the advanced Borei-class submarines, each capable of harboring 16 such missiles. These submarines are poised to become a linchpin in Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrence, projecting power for years to come.
This latest test is a pivotal step towards the vessel’s formal commissioning into the Russian fleet, marking the culmination of a rigorous series of validations for the submarine.
Presently, Russia’s navy boasts three operational Borei-class submarines, with another completing trials and an additional three in various stages of construction, as per the Defense Ministry’s reports. These developments are a testament to President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to significantly modernize the nation’s military forces, a policy that has been a cornerstone of his administration since assuming office in 1999. Indeed, this military revitalization encompasses both nuclear and conventional domains, reviving the country’s defense profile that experienced a downturn following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Amid escalating strains in international relations, particularly with Western powers, Putin last month alluded to the potential revival of nuclear testing, an activity dormant for over thirty years. This statement surfaces at a time when diplomatic communications with the United States are particularly strained, a sentiment echoed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who remarked on the dire status of U.S.-Russia interactions.
The Kremlin’s strategy outlines an ambitious plan to construct between 10 to 12 Borei-class submarines to be distributed across its Northern and Pacific fleets, according to state media. In addition to the current fleet, three more submarines of the Borei-class – Knyaz Pozharsky, Dmitry Donskoy, and Knyaz Potemkin – are reportedly under construction, with two more projected.
Insiders acquainted with the matter informed Reuters that the Imperator Alexander III is the seventh submarine within the Russian Project 955 Borei (Arctic Wind) class and the fourth vessel of the updated Borei-A series. In NATO circles, these submarines are often referred to by the moniker ‘Dolgoruky class,’ after the inaugural boat of this new generation, the Yuri Dolgoruky, which was the first of its kind launched by Russia since the cessation of the Cold War.