The new Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile will be "partially" put into service in 2012, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Thursday.
"There are all grounds to put into service partially, not only the (Bulava) missiles but also the complexes in 2012," Serdyukov told local reporters.
Serdyukov also said that the latest test of the Bulava on Saturday was "perfect."
The Russian Navy successfully test fired the Bulava missile from the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine on Aug. 27, Xinhua reported.
The Bulava, expected to become Russia's main naval strategic missile, is capable of carrying 10 warheads with a range of 8,000 km. Only eight of its previous 15 launches were officially declared successful.