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Nuclear testing

Russia Tests Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile, Aims for Deployment

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country has tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, which has a unique capability to evade missile defenses and stay aloft for an extended period. The missile, currently undergoing final tests, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and has been described as having an unlimited range. The development of the Burevestnik has been met with skepticism by Western experts, who question its strategic value and express concerns about radiation discharges and detection vulnerabilities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Burevestnik is a nuclear-powered cruise missile with a nuclear warhead, designed to evade missile defenses and stay aloft for an extended period.
  • The missile has been tested and is undergoing final preparations for deployment, with Putin directing the Russian military to determine its possible uses and prepare the necessary infrastructure.
  • The Burevestnik's nuclear propulsion allows it to fly for longer and farther than traditional turbojet or turbofan engines, giving it a unique capability to "loiter" for an extended period before hitting a target.
  • According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the missile can stay aloft potentially for days, carrying a nuclear warhead and circling the globe at low altitude.
  • Western experts have questioned the missile's strategic value, suggesting it may add no new capabilities to Moscow's armed forces and potentially disgorge radiation along its path.
  • The Burevestnik's development has been marked by past failures and a poor test record, with five Russian nuclear specialists reportedly killed in an explosion and radiation release during an experiment in the White Sea.

Statistics:

  • The Burevestnik has covered 14,000 kilometers (8700 miles) during its testing, with a flight time of 15 hours, according to Gen. Valery Gerasimov.
  • The missile is reportedly capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and has a notional range of up to 20,000 km, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
  • The Burevestnik's nuclear reactor contains a miniature nuclear reactor, which blasts out superheated and possibly radioactive air to provide forward thrust.

Sources:

  • Associated Press
  • Reuters
  • Nuclear Threat Initiative
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies
  • Hindustan Times

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