Russia Reports Effective Trial of Reactor-Driven Burevestnik Cruise Missile
The nation has evaluated the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, as reported by the country's top military official.
"We have conducted a multi-hour flight of a reactor-driven projectile and it traversed a 14,000km distance, which is not the limit," Chief of General Staff the general told President Vladimir Putin in a broadcast conference.
The low-flying experimental weapon, initially revealed in recent years, has been hailed as having a potentially unlimited range and the capability to avoid defensive systems.
International analysts have previously cast doubt over the weapon's military utility and the nation's statements of having accomplished its evaluation.
The head of state declared that a "last accomplished trial" of the armament had been conducted in last year, but the claim could not be independently verified. Of at least 13 known tests, only two had partial success since several years ago, based on an non-proliferation organization.
Gen Gerasimov reported the missile was in the atmosphere for fifteen hours during the trial on the specified date.
He noted the projectile's ascent and directional control were assessed and were determined to be meeting requirements, based on a domestic media outlet.
"Consequently, it demonstrated high capabilities to circumvent missile and air defence systems," the media source reported the commander as saying.
The projectile's application has been the subject of intense debate in defence and strategic sectors since it was initially revealed in 2018.
A 2021 report by a foreign defence research body determined: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would provide the nation a singular system with intercontinental range capability."
However, as an international strategic institute noted the corresponding time, Moscow confronts significant challenges in achieving operational status.
"Its induction into the country's stockpile potentially relies not only on resolving the significant development hurdle of ensuring the reliable performance of the atomic power system," experts wrote.
"There occurred multiple unsuccessful trials, and a mishap resulting in a number of casualties."
A armed forces periodical quoted in the study states the weapon has a range of between 6,200 and 12,400 miles, allowing "the weapon to be stationed throughout the nation and still be capable to strike goals in the United States mainland."
The same journal also notes the weapon can travel as low as 164 to 328 feet above ground, causing complexity for defensive networks to intercept.
The projectile, referred to as Skyfall by a foreign security organization, is considered powered by a nuclear reactor, which is designed to activate after initial propulsion units have propelled it into the sky.
An examination by a reporting service the previous year located a facility a considerable distance from the city as the probable deployment area of the armament.
Utilizing space-based photos from last summer, an expert informed the agency he had identified multiple firing positions under construction at the facility.
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