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 missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having successfully tested it. Putin stated that a 'final successful test' of the weapon had been held in 2023, although this claim could not be independently verified. Out of at least 13 known tests, only two had partial success since 2016, according to an arms control campaign group.
Gen Gerasimov noted that the missile was air-borne for 15 hours during the test on 21 October, with successful vertical and horizontal manoeuvring as per testing specifications, according to Russia's Tass news agency. He added that it demonstrated high capabilities to bypass existing missile and air defence systems.
The missile's utility has been heavily debated in military and defense circles since it was first announced, with some reports from the US Air Force suggesting that its nuclear-powered capabilities would give Russia a unique weapon with intercontinental range. However, the International Institute of Strategic Studies highlighted significant challenges faced by Russia in making the weapon viable, including ensuring reliable performance and overcoming technical difficulties.
A recent inquiry suggested the missile has an extensive range and could potentially strike targets within the continental US. Moreover, it can fly at low altitudes, making interception by air defenses difficult. The missile, classified as Skyfall by NATO, reportedly is powered by a nuclear reactor that activates post-launch, utilizing solid fuel rocket boosters to initiate its flight sequence. A recent Reuters investigation identified a facility near Moscow, under construction to potentially house the missile launch system, using satellite imagery to analyze the emerging developments.
Western experts have previously cast doubt over missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having successfully tested it. Putin stated that a 'final successful test' of the weapon had been held in 2023, although this claim could not be independently verified. Out of at least 13 known tests, only two had partial success since 2016, according to an arms control campaign group.
Gen Gerasimov noted that the missile was air-borne for 15 hours during the test on 21 October, with successful vertical and horizontal manoeuvring as per testing specifications, according to Russia's Tass news agency. He added that it demonstrated high capabilities to bypass existing missile and air defence systems.
The missile's utility has been heavily debated in military and defense circles since it was first announced, with some reports from the US Air Force suggesting that its nuclear-powered capabilities would give Russia a unique weapon with intercontinental range. However, the International Institute of Strategic Studies highlighted significant challenges faced by Russia in making the weapon viable, including ensuring reliable performance and overcoming technical difficulties.
A recent inquiry suggested the missile has an extensive range and could potentially strike targets within the continental US. Moreover, it can fly at low altitudes, making interception by air defenses difficult. The missile, classified as Skyfall by NATO, reportedly is powered by a nuclear reactor that activates post-launch, utilizing solid fuel rocket boosters to initiate its flight sequence. A recent Reuters investigation identified a facility near Moscow, under construction to potentially house the missile launch system, using satellite imagery to analyze the emerging developments.
