Russia Announces Effective Test of Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile

Russia has tested the reactor-driven Burevestnik strategic weapon, according to the nation's leading commander.

"We have launched a extended flight of a reactor-driven projectile and it traversed a vast distance, which is not the ultimate range," Top Army Official the commander informed the head of state in a public appearance.

The low-flying prototype missile, initially revealed in 2018, has been described as having a theoretically endless flight path and the capacity to evade missile defences.

Western experts have earlier expressed skepticism over the missile's strategic value and Moscow's assertions of having accomplished its evaluation.

The president said that a "last accomplished trial" of the weapon had been held in 2023, but the statement lacked outside validation. Of a minimum of thirteen documented trials, only two had limited accomplishment since 2016, based on an disarmament advocacy body.

The general said the weapon was in the air for 15 hours during the evaluation on 21 October.

He said the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were evaluated and were confirmed as complying with standards, based on a local reporting service.

"Therefore, it demonstrated advanced abilities to evade anti-missile and aerial protection," the news agency reported the general as saying.

The weapon's usefulness has been the subject of heated controversy in defence and strategic sectors since it was originally disclosed in 2018.

A previous study by a foreign defence research body stated: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would offer Moscow a unique weapon with worldwide reach potential."

Yet, as a global defence think tank noted the same year, Russia faces considerable difficulties in achieving operational status.

"Its induction into the state's inventory potentially relies not only on resolving the significant development hurdle of ensuring the consistent operation of the atomic power system," experts stated.

"There occurred several flawed evaluations, and an incident leading to several deaths."

A defence publication referenced in the analysis claims the missile has a flight distance of between a substantial span, permitting "the weapon to be deployed anywhere in Russia and still be equipped to strike objectives in the United States mainland."

The identical publication also says the missile can operate as close to the ground as a very low elevation above the earth, rendering it challenging for aerial protection systems to engage.

The projectile, designated Skyfall by a Western alliance, is believed to be propelled by a nuclear reactor, which is designed to activate after primary launch mechanisms have launched it into the atmosphere.

An investigation by a news agency recently located a location 295 miles above the capital as the likely launch site of the missile.

Utilizing satellite imagery from August 2024, an analyst informed the outlet he had observed several deployment sites being built at the location.

Associated Updates

• Head of State Endorses Amendments to Atomic Policy