Russia to continue testing Bulava missile despite recent failure, says commander

MOSCOW, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia would not give up on its troubled Bulava submarine-launched intercontinental missile, the Russian Navy commander said on Tuesday.

"We'll keep working (on Bulava)" despite the recent failed tests, Commander Vladimir Vysotsky was quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency.

It was impossible to drop the Bulava project or to replace it with something else, he said.

Itar-Tass quoted another high-ranking naval official as saying the dates of more Bulava tests had not been determined yet.

"I'm certain that no tests are scheduled for this year. As for 2010, nothing has been clear to date," the official said.

Separately, the RIA Novosti news agency on Tuesday quoted an unidentified defense ministry official as saying the next Bulava test might take place in January.

"The exact date of the next trial has not been fixed yet, but trials will continue next year. We could still make a launch in January or in the summer, after the White Sea is free from ice," the official said.

The official said a state commission was to analyze the whole process of developing the missile, which involves some 650 defense enterprises.

The Bulava missile failed in its latest test last Wednesday. Seven of the 12 Bulava test launches have been reported unsuccessful.

Further development of the Bulava has been questioned by some legislators and defense industry experts, who have suggested that all efforts should be focused on the existing Sineva missile.

But the military insists there was no alternative to the Bulava and pledged to continue testing the missile until it is ready to be put in service with the Navy.

The Bulava, which is capable of carrying up to 10 individually targeted nuclear warheads and has a maximum range of 8,000 km, is expected to become a key part of the Russian military's future nuclear arsenal.