The Russian Defense Ministry will resume test launches of the newest submarine-launched ballistic missile Bulava in mid-June

The Russian Defense Ministry will resume test launches of the newest submarine-launched ballistic missile Bulava in mid-June, the Ministry's press service said Thursday.

The missiles will be test-fired from a standard carrier, the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine, the ministry said.

Russia plans to perform five launches from the White Sea toward the designated district of the Kura range on the Kamchatka peninsula, the ministry added.

The launches would be monitored by a state commission whose members will be on board the submarine.

"In case of successful tests, the Bulava missile might be added to the Navy's arsenal as early as in 2011 or in the beginning of 2012," the Defense Ministry said.

The previous successful launch of the Bulava missile was performed last October. A 15th test launch was originally slated for Dec. 17 but was postponed due to ice conditions in the Barents Sea.

Bulava, which is supposed to become Russia's main naval strategic missile, is capable of carrying 10 warheads with a range of 8,000 km.

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