Everything went according to the plan - on September 18, 2008, Dmitri Donskoy submarine of the Northern Fleet successfully launched a Bulava missile. According to the Russian Navy, the launch was conducted from a submerged submarine deployed in the White Sea. The launch took place at 18:45 MSK (14:45UTC). Missile warheads reached their targets at the Kura test site at 19:05 MSK.

This launch is the first after a string of unsuccessful or partially successful test launches, which prompted deliberations in the government and probably resulted in some changes in the program.