Russia Announces Effective Test of Reactor-Driven Storm Petrel Cruise Missile

Moscow has trialed the nuclear-powered Burevestnik long-range missile, as reported by the nation's senior general.

"We have launched a multi-hour flight of a atomic-propelled weapon and it traveled a vast distance, which is not the limit," Senior Military Leader the general told the head of state in a broadcast conference.

The low-flying advanced armament, initially revealed in the past decade, has been described as having a theoretically endless flight path and the capacity to avoid defensive systems.

Western experts have previously cast doubt over the weapon's military utility and Russian claims of having accomplished its evaluation.

The head of state stated that a "concluding effective evaluation" of the armament had been held in last year, but the assertion lacked outside validation. Of a minimum of thirteen documented trials, only two had partial success since the mid-2010s, based on an disarmament advocacy body.

The military leader stated the missile was in the air for fifteen hours during the test on October 21.

He explained the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were tested and were determined to be up to specification, according to a local reporting service.

"As a result, it exhibited high capabilities to evade defensive networks," the news agency quoted the official as saying.

The missile's utility has been the focus of heated controversy in defence and strategic sectors since it was originally disclosed in 2018.

A previous study by a US Air Force intelligence center concluded: "A reactor-driven long-range projectile would give Russia a singular system with global strike capacity."

However, as a global defence think tank commented the corresponding time, Russia faces considerable difficulties in developing a functional system.

"Its integration into the nation's inventory arguably hinges not only on surmounting the considerable technical challenge of securing the reliable performance of the reactor drive mechanism," specialists noted.

"There occurred numerous flight-test failures, and an incident causing several deaths."

A military journal referenced in the study states the projectile has a range of between 6,200 and 12,400 miles, permitting "the projectile to be based throughout the nation and still be capable to target goals in the United States mainland."

The identical publication also explains the weapon can operate as close to the ground as a very low elevation above the earth, making it difficult for aerial protection systems to intercept.

The projectile, referred to as an operational name by a Western alliance, is considered driven by a atomic power source, which is designed to activate after solid fuel rocket boosters have sent it into the atmosphere.

An examination by a news agency recently located a facility a considerable distance above the capital as the probable deployment area of the missile.

Using satellite imagery from August 2024, an specialist told the outlet he had detected multiple firing positions being built at the site.

Connected News

• Head of State Endorses Modifications to Nuclear Doctrine