The fourth test firing of the mobile Topol-M missile is planned for the end of December, Mr. Solomonov added.
"The Defense Ministry has set a very difficult goal: to complete the test this year," he said. "We are doing everything possible to conduct the fourth test firing at the end of December."
He said that if the test is conducted, the production of the mobile Topol-M systems would most likely be included in the state defense order in 2005.
He said that in the future the Topol-M and the Bulava would be combined into a single missile. "These two systems will be turned into one," he said. "This will save a large amount of money."
According to Mr. Solomonov, the Topol-M missile can it can be used both in silo-based systems and on a mobile platform.
This change limits the amount of equipment that needs to be designed and will make it possible to create one missile system instead of several.
Mr. Solomonov said work on the Bulava was proceeding 2-3 years faster than on previous generations of the missile for several reasons.
He said that if the program was properly funded, work would be completed on schedule.
He also said that the Bulava was intended for two types of submarines: test firings from one type of submarine were conducted in September, the tests from Borei class submarines were planned for 2006.
