Russia Confirms Successful Trial of Atomic-Propelled Burevestnik Missile

The nation has evaluated the nuclear-powered Burevestnik strategic weapon, as reported by the nation's leading commander.

"We have conducted a multi-hour flight of a reactor-driven projectile and it traversed a 8,700-mile distance, which is not the limit," Senior Military Leader Valery Gerasimov reported to the head of state in a broadcast conference.

The terrain-hugging prototype missile, initially revealed in recent years, has been portrayed as having a potentially unlimited range and the ability to evade defensive systems.

Foreign specialists have previously cast doubt over the weapon's military utility and the nation's statements of having successfully tested it.

The president stated that a "last accomplished trial" of the weapon had been held in the previous year, but the statement could not be independently verified. Of at least 13 known tests, merely a pair had limited accomplishment since several years ago, based on an arms control campaign group.

The general reported the weapon was in the atmosphere for a significant duration during the trial on October 21.

He said the weapon's altitude and course adjustments were assessed and were determined to be meeting requirements, as per a national news agency.

"Consequently, it demonstrated high capabilities to bypass anti-missile and aerial protection," the outlet reported the commander as saying.

The weapon's usefulness has been the focus of vigorous discussion in defence and strategic sectors since it was first announced in recent years.

A recent analysis by a US Air Force intelligence center determined: "A reactor-driven long-range projectile would offer Moscow a unique weapon with intercontinental range capability."

However, as a global defence think tank noted the corresponding time, Moscow faces major obstacles in making the weapon viable.

"Its entry into the nation's inventory likely depends not only on surmounting the significant development hurdle of guaranteeing the consistent operation of the nuclear-propulsion unit," analysts stated.

"There were multiple unsuccessful trials, and an incident resulting in a number of casualties."

A military journal cited in the analysis asserts the missile has a range of between 6,200 and 12,400 miles, permitting "the missile to be based throughout the nation and still be able to strike targets in the continental US."

The identical publication also notes the projectile can operate as close to the ground as 164 to 328 feet above the surface, making it difficult for aerial protection systems to intercept.

The weapon, designated Skyfall by a foreign security organization, is thought to be driven by a nuclear reactor, which is intended to commence operation after solid fuel rocket boosters have propelled it into the sky.

An examination by a news agency recently pinpointed a location 475km from the city as the likely launch site of the missile.

Using orbital photographs from the recent past, an expert reported to the service he had identified multiple firing positions in development at the facility.

Related Developments

• President Authorizes Amendments to Atomic Policy