SRF commander, three-star Col.-Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, told Itar-Tass the main purpose of the launch was to test "a uniform warhead for land- and sea-based ballistic missiles" and newly developed elements of a system designed to penetrate missile defenses.

Solovtsov said the test involved optic and radar measurement systems that reproduce similar U.S. systems, Interfax news agency reported.

U.S. analysts believe the test was part of the ongoing ambitious program authorized by Russian President Vladimir Putin to deploy a new generation of upgraded Bulava sea-launched and Topol mobile, ground-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles with multiple independently-targeted reentry vehicle warheads that can evade or neutralize all of the anti-ballistic missile programs the United States is currently developing.

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