Russia’s much delayed test launch of the ill-fated Bulava ballistic missile is likely to be held on 7 October in the White Sea, an administrative source of the northern Russian town of Severodvinsk said.

“The launch of the missile is expected at the end of the week, most likely on Thursday,” the source said.

The Bulava is a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile that will be launched from Russia’s Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine.

The test launch of the missile was put on hold after it failed a launch on 9 December 2009, due to a defective engine nozzle, according to RIA Novosti.