Test launches of Russia's ill-fated Bulava ballistic missile will resume in August or September, a high ranking Russian Navy official said on Friday.
"In all, three test launches are to be carried out before the end of the year," he said.
A source close to the government commission probing the incident said earlier on Friday the failure of the Bulava's latest test launch, on December 9, 2009, was caused by a defective engine nozzle.
Since then, all further Bulava test launches were put on hold pending the results of a government commission probe.
The Bulava has officially suffered seven failures in 12 tests. Some analysts suggest that in reality the number of failures was considerably larger, with Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer contending that of the Bulava's 12 test launches, only one was entirely successful.
MOSCOW, July 23 (RIA Novosti)
