The missile was in active service from 1987 until 2007, and deployed with the 54th Strategic missile Division near the town of Teikovo, about 150 miles (240 km) northeast of Moscow.
The Navy plans to buy 12 ballistic-missile submarines to replace the 14 current Ohio-class, or Trident, boats that are nearing the end of their service lives.
The most advanced ballistic missile currently in service, the DF-31 features higher mobility and therefore better survivability compared to the last generation Chinese ICBM.