Moscow, Russian Federation (AHN) – In a success that could boost the Kremlin’s weapons program after a series of launch failures, the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday announced a successful test of its new Bulava inter-continental long-range ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Northern Fleet’s heavy strategic cruiser Dmitry Donskoi.

After repeated failures in earlier trials, this was the first time that a Bulava missile hit the designated target, 6,000 kilometers away during a test in Russia’s far eastern Kamachatka Peninsula.

Notably, Russia, which passed only five tests of 12 launch attempts previously, is now planning to conduct three more missile tests later this year. Moscow had last tested a missile in December 2009 but failed.

According to a Russian Navy representative, once all tests are successfully completed, the Navy could put the missiles into service once they start mass production.

Bulava has the capacity to carry multiple warheads each of 150 kilotons to a range of 8,000km and are designed to dodge missile defenses. It is most accurately described as the sea-based version of Russia’s Topol-M surface-to-surface missile.

Once put into use, it is likely to become one of the chief weapons in the Kremlin’s strategic missile force.

In another development, a senior government official said that Russia would repay Iran after canceling an order of missile system last month. Russia’s state weapons exporter’s chief Sergei Chemezov said it had revoked the contract and were ready to would repay Iran’s $166 million advance payment.

“Of course, they are not very pleased. We do not have a choice,” he added.

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