The RSM-54 missile was launched from a submerged Delfin-class submarine named Yekaterinburg to a range on the Kamchatka Peninsula thousands of kilometres (miles) to the east, the defence ministry was quoted as saying.

Two submarines, the Northern Fleet's flagship Pyotr Veliky cruiser and Russia's only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, as well as long-range aircraft, were taking part in the Barents Sea manoeuvres - the first of four exercises due to take place in August and September.

Putin, accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, was watching the naval war game after flying in Tuesday on a Tu-160 supersonic, long-range bomber. During the flight he broke the sound barrier and watched the firing of a cruise missile.

Particular attention was being paid to the Northern Fleet exercise following an embarrassing failure to successfully fire the RSM-54 missile during a similar war game attended by Putin last year.

On first attempt, a nuclear submarine was unable to launch the RSM-54, known in NATO code as SS-N-23, and a second missile had to be destroyed in mid-air after veering off course.

The navy is also in the spotlight following an international rescue effort earlier this month to save seven submariners trapped in a Russian mini-submarine on the Pacific Ocean floor.

On Thursday, major Russian-Chinese military exercises start.

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