The RSM-54 Sineva ballistic missile was launched by the Yekaterinburg submarine, during wargames involving the Northern Fleet and the Air Force's long-range division, the fleet headquarters reported.
Another submarine was reportedly on standby in case the first launch failed. During a similar exercise in February 2004, the Novomoskovsk nuclear submarine failed to launch a Sineva.
A second missile was then launched, but it was destroyed in flight after veering off course. That unsuccessful exercise, like this week's one, was observed by President Vladimir Putin.
August is a busy time for the Russian military, with a number of major exercises during the month.
Others include the first joint exercises with China, beginning on Thursday, and joint maneuvers in Uzbekistan with Uzbek armed forces, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in Moscow.
The Northern Fleet drill involves the fleet's flagship, missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great), Russia's sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, submarines and other vessels.
The ships simulated a battle, firing guns and missiles at sea, air and land targets as well as rehearsing anti-submarine hunt-and-destroy operations. Air units held tactical exercises.
Putin observed the exercise from the Pyotr Veliky, after flying by long-range bomber to the Northern Fleet base.
During the flight, the Tu-160 bomber was reported to have broken the sound barrier over the Nizhny Novgorod region, while Putin was in the pilot's seat. It then slowed down to fire a cruise missile at a target, and was also refueled in midair.
During a brief medical check shown on state television, a medical officer was seen telling Putin that his blood pressure was as good as a cosmonaut's.
The final stage of the exercise will see Russia's Space Forces launch a satellite from a launch site in northern Russia on Aug. 28, according to Russian media reports.
Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-Brief.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
