Trials of Russian nuclear subs suspended after missile launch fails

Trials of two new Russian nuclear submarines have been suspended after a submarine-launched ballistic missile malfunctioned, a defense official said.

A spokesman for the Defense Ministry said a Bulava missile fired from the Alexander Nevsky submarine toward a test site in eastern Russia failed in the second minute of the test. Five other launches of the missiles also were put on hold, the spokesman said.

The Alexander Nevsky was scheduled to be put into operation Nov. 15, contingent on a successful launch of its ballistic missiles. Officially, eight of the 19 or 20 test launches of the Bulava missiles have been declared unsuccessful.