Moscow Announces Successful Trial of Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile
Moscow has trialed the atomic-propelled Burevestnik long-range missile, as stated by the country's senior general.
"We have launched a prolonged flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it traversed a 8,700-mile distance, which is not the limit," Chief of General Staff the commander reported to the Russian leader in a televised meeting.
The low-altitude prototype missile, originally disclosed in 2018, has been hailed as having a theoretically endless flight path and the ability to avoid defensive systems.
International analysts have previously cast doubt over the weapon's military utility and Russian claims of having effectively trialed it.
The president said that a "last accomplished trial" of the missile had been conducted in 2023, but the claim could not be independently verified. Of over a dozen recorded evaluations, only two had moderate achievement since the mid-2010s, based on an arms control campaign group.
Gen Gerasimov said the missile was in the air for 15 hours during the test on the specified date.
He explained the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were tested and were found to be up to specification, as per a local reporting service.
"Consequently, it demonstrated high capabilities to bypass anti-missile and aerial protection," the outlet reported the general as saying.
The projectile's application has been the focus of heated controversy in military and defence circles since it was originally disclosed in recent years.
A previous study by a US Air Force intelligence center stated: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would provide the nation a unique weapon with worldwide reach potential."
Nonetheless, as an international strategic institute observed the same year, Moscow encounters considerable difficulties in developing a functional system.
"Its entry into the country's inventory likely depends not only on resolving the considerable technical challenge of ensuring the consistent operation of the reactor drive mechanism," experts wrote.
"There occurred numerous flight-test failures, and a mishap leading to multiple fatalities."
A defence publication referenced in the study claims the projectile has a range of between a substantial span, allowing "the missile to be based throughout the nation and still be able to strike targets in the United States mainland."
The corresponding source also notes the missile can operate as at minimal altitude as 164 to 328 feet above the earth, causing complexity for aerial protection systems to intercept.
The projectile, referred to as Skyfall by a Western alliance, is believed to be propelled by a atomic power source, which is intended to activate after solid fuel rocket boosters have propelled it into the sky.
An investigation by a media outlet last year located a location a considerable distance from the city as the possible firing point of the missile.
Using satellite imagery from last summer, an analyst reported to the outlet he had detected nine horizontal launch pads in development at the location.
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