In brief
Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile, according to Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The missile reportedly covered a distance of 14,000 kilometers during a 15-hour flight. Announced in 2018, the missile is designed for low flight, aiming to evade missile defense systems. However, its strategic value remains debated, with skepticism from Western experts regarding Russia's claims and the viability of the missile's technology due to its historical flight failures.
Russia has tested the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, Moscow's top general has said. 'We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000km (8,700-mile) distance, which is not the limit,' Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting. The low-flying experimental weapon, first announced in 2018, has been hailed as having a potentially unlimited range and the ability to evade missile defences.Western experts have previously cast doubt over the missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having successfully tested it. Putin mentioned a 'final successful test' of the weapon had been conducted in 2023, but this claim could not be independently verified. Of at least 13 known tests, only two had partial success since 2016, according to an arms control campaign group. Gen Gerasimov indicated the missile was in the air for 15 hours during the test on October 21. He stated that the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were tested and found to meet specifications, allegedly demonstrating high capabilities to bypass missile and air defence systems.The missile's utility has been a topic of intense debate in military circles since its announcement in 2018. A 2021 report by the US Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center concluded that a nuclear-powered cruise missile would provide Russia with a unique weapon capable of intercontinental range. However, significant challenges remain for making the weapon entirely viable, as noted by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).In recent analysis, the IISS reported that not only does the missile face considerable technical challenges in ensuring the reliable performance of its nuclear-propulsion unit, but it has also experienced several flight-test failures. A Russian military journal reported that the Burevestnik missile may have a range of 10,000 to 20,000 km, enabling it to be based anywhere in Russia while still reaching targets in the continental US and that it could fly as low as 50 to 100 meters above the ground, making it difficult for air defenses to intercept. This missile, code-named Skyfall by NATO, is believed to be powered by a nuclear reactor that activates after solid fuel rocket boosters have launched it into the air. An investigative report from Reuters identified a facility 475 km north of Moscow as the likely launch site, with nine horizontal launch pads under construction identified through satellite imagery.
