Russia tests new ballistic missile

Russia carried out on Thursday a successful test of a new sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile, the Defense Ministry said. The Liner missile was launched from the Tula (Delta IV class) strategic submarine in the Barents Sea targeting the Kura test grounds on the Kamchatka peninsula. "The missile's warheads hit the designated area on schedule," spokesman Col. Igor Konashenkov said. The Liner is an advanced version of the solid-propellant Sineva submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which is currently in service with the Russian Navy. It has a longer range and enhanced missile defense penetration capability. According to the developer of the missile, the State Missile Center, the Liner can carry up to four medium-yield warheads or up to 12 small-yield warheads, or their mixture. In comparison, Russia's much-coveted Bulava SLBM can carry only six small-yield warheads.