MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian Navy has successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile, proving its reliability after a long and troublesome development.

The Defense Ministry said that the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear submarine test-fired a Bulava missile from an underwater position in the Barents Sea Wednesday. The missile’s warheads successfully reached designated targets at a testing range in the Kamchatka Peninsula in fare eastern Russia.

The launch was key for confirming the capability of the missile, which the Kremlin touted as an important part of the nation’s nuclear deterrent.

Many early Bulava launches went awry during a decade of tests, raising doubts about Russia’s ability to carry out the ambitious project. A series of recent launches, however, has been successful and the Navy now has three nuclear submarines to carry the Bulava.

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