Russia reports successful missile test

MOSCOW — Russia said a new sea-based ballistic missile made its first successful test flight Thursday after several previous failures, in what was the country's second major test of new rocket technology in a month.

Capt. Igor Dygalo, a spokesman for the Russian navy, said the Bulava missile was fired from the submarine Dmitry Donskoi in northern Russia's White Sea and hit its target on the Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka, about 4,200 miles east of Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin has hailed Bulava as a key component of Russia's nuclear forces for years to come, saying it has the ability to penetrate any prospective missile defenses. However, three earlier tests in recent years failed, raising doubts about the missile.

Russian media speculated the military was trying to avoid embarrassing Sergei Ivanov, the former defense minister who is now a first deputy prime minister and widely considered a leading candidate to succeed Putin in next year's presidential election.

According to Russian news reports, the Bulava is designed to have a range of 6,200 miles and carry six individually targeted nuclear warheads. It is expected to equip three new Borei-class nuclear submarines that are under construction.

Thursday's test comes amid an aggressive Russian effort to upgrade its missile forces after years of underfunding and a lack of testing.

On May 29, the Strategic Rocket Force said it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple independent warheads.

A U.S. plan to deploy a ballistic-missile defense system in eastern Europe has been criticized by Putin and other Russian officials, who say it will undermine Russian security.

Putin meets with President Bush on Sunday and Monday at the Bush family estate in Maine in a bid to address divisions between the countries.