Russia concluded flight testing of its new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile, reported Voice of America. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday the new three-staged system is now ready to enter service in the country’s strategic nuclear forces after the successful salvo launch of two Bulava missiles on Dec. 23 from the Borey-class submarine Yuri Dolguruky. That test was the 18th and 19th firing of the Bulava, which had a mixed record of success in flight testing, reported RIA Novosti news agency.
Facing competition from fast-growing startups, Lockheed Martin is speeding up production of an “affordable, scalable” hypersonic glide body, dubbed the Next Generation Glide Body, the firm said in a June 24 release.