Moscow, July 15 (RIA Novosti) The United States was unable to detect the presence of Russian strategic submarines in the Arctic before they test-launched two ballistic missiles, a Russian intelligence source said Wednesday.

Russia carried out test launches of two Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles (IBMs) from two Delta IV class nuclear-powered submarines, located near the North Pole, July 13-14.

'The American radars certainly detected the missile launches but their location took them by surprise,' the source said.

The first missile, flying a ballistic path, hit its designated target at the Kura testing grounds on the Kamchatka Peninsula, while the second, fired with a flat trajectory, destroyed a target at the Chizha testing site on the White Sea.

The source said that the launch area, covered by floating ice sheets, was heavily patrolled by Russian attack submarines and the Americans were unable to detect the arrival of two strategic submarines before the launch.