Russia Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile From New Submarine

The Emperor Alexander III nuclear submarine of the Russia navy test-fires a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from the White Sea, on Nov. 5, 2023. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Russian officials said on Nov. 5 that the country’s military test-fired a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a nuclear submarine.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that a Bulava ICBM missile was fired from the nuclear submarine Emperor Alexander III during a test in the White Sea. The missile hit a target in the far-east region of Kamchatka, Russia, officials said, according to state-run media.

The ministry said in a statement that it fired the missile underwater and that its warheads reached the target in a timely manner. It isn’t clear when the test occurred, as the ministry didn’t say.

“The new nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine cruiser Emperor Alexander III has successfully launched the Bulava sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile,” the statement reads.

The Federation of American Scientists has said that the Bulava missile is capable of carrying up to six nuclear warheads. The Emperor Alexander III is one of Russia’s new Borei-class nuclear submarines and can carry 16 Bulava missiles.

“Firing a ballistic missile is the final element of state tests, after which a decision will be made to accept the cruiser into the Navy,” the ministry stated.

Since rising to power in 1999, Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased military spending and sought to rebuild Russia’s nuclear and conventional forces after the chaos that accompanied the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.

The Ukraine war has triggered the worst crisis in Moscow’s relations with the West since the depths of the Cold War, and Mr. Putin last month said he wasn’t ready to say whether Russia should resume nuclear testing. In October, Mr. Putin signed a measure into law that withdrew Russia from a decades-long nuclear testing moratorium, drawing condemnation from top U.S. officials.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview aired on Nov. 5 that relations with the United States were below zero.

“Relations are at zero—or I would say below zero,” the Kremlin spokesman said, although he noted that at some point, the leaders of Russia and the United States would have to resume contact. “Putin has repeatedly stated that he is ready for any contacts.”

Russia aims to build a total of 10 to 12 Borei-class submarines to be divided between the Northern and Pacific fleets, according to the current plans disclosed by Russian media. Three more Borei-class submarines are being built: the Knyaz Pozharsky, the Dmitry Donskoy, and the Knyaz Potemkin. Two additional boats are also planned, according to Russian media.

More Activity

Before signing the measure to pull out of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Mr. Putin said it would “mirror” Moscow’s “relations with the United States.” He noted that the United States has never ratified the test ban treaty.

After the withdrawal, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement that criticized Russia and claimed that it would be a step in the wrong direction.

“We are deeply concerned by Russia’s planned action to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,” Mr. Blinken said in a statement. “Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force.”

Weeks before, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow would continue to respect the ban and will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does so first.

“Never say never. Tests may resume under certain circumstances. I believe that such a development would be negative for the modern world, for maintaining stability,” Mikhail Ulyanov, a Russian envoy to the United Nations, also told Russian state media in October. “We have enough turbulence in international relations and wouldn’t want another powerful factor added.”

Earlier this year, Russia stated that it suspended participation in the New START treaty, an arms control agreement between Russia and the United States. It stated at the time that it would continue to respect the limits on nuclear weapons imposed by the treaty.

As for the United States, the Department of Energy confirmed that it conducted a “subsurface chemical explosion” at the Nevada nuclear test site several weeks ago.

“The experiment will help validate new predictive explosion models and detection algorithms,” the department said in a statement. “Measurements were collected using accelerometers, seismometers, infrasound sensors, electromagnetic sensors, chemical and radiotracer samplers, and meteorological sensors.”

Last week, the Pentagon stated that it would pursue the development of a nuclear bomb and that it needs congressional approval before doing so.

“Today’s announcement is reflective of a changing security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries,” Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb said in a statement announcing the agency’s plans. “The United States has a responsibility to continue to assess and field the capabilities we need to credibly deter and, if necessary, respond to strategic attacks, and assure our allies.”

On Nov. 5, the Department of Defense confirmed that it deployed a nuclear-capable submarine in the central area of command, or near the Middle East, officials said.

Reuters contributed to this report.