Russia tests Bulava missile from Generalissimus Suvorov submarine

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the K-553 Generalissimus Suvorov, a Borei-A class strategic submarine, launched an R-30 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from the Sea of Okhotsk on October 28, 2026. The missile traveled approximately 5,500 to 6,000 kilometers across Russian territory, landing at the Chizha testing range on the Kanin Peninsula near the Barents Sea.

The Russian military described the launch as a planned combat training exercise. The Bulava missile is capable of carrying up to ten independently guided warheads, each with a yield of 100 to 150 kilotons. The Generalissimus Suvorov is part of a new generation of submarines designed with a lower acoustic signature and can carry up to 16 Bulava missiles.

This demonstration occurred amid heightened geopolitical tensions, following telephone discussions between Vladimir Putin and leaders from Finland and Norway regarding the war in Ukraine. The test also coincided with the United States' Global Thunder exercise, which tests strategic nuclear command and control capabilities.