The weapon is powered by a miniature nuclear reactor, giving it virtually unlimited range at speeds of up to 1,300 km/h
Moscow has released new footage of its unlimited-range Burevestnik cruise missile. The new weapon, based on the latest developments in nuclear reactor technology, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, and was successfully trial-launched last week.
The 9M739 Burevestnik, which translates to ‘storm petrel’ and is also known as the SSC-X-9 ‘SKYFALL’ under NATO classification, is one of several new strategic weapons developed by Russia in recent years.
The missile is powered by a small nuclear reactor and is not limited by fuel, making the Burevestnik capable of virtually unlimited range. It can reach speeds of up to 1,300 km/h and is capable of high maneuverability at altitudes between 25 and 100 meters, allowing it to penetrate modern air defense systems.
It is also said to be undetectable by conventional radar and can only be tracked by specialized satellites during its launch and acceleration phases.
It has been in development since 2001 but was only publicly announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, who has described it as a one-of-a-kind weapon that does not follow a ballistic trajectory.
Its miniature nuclear reactor, according to Putin, is “comparable in output with a reactor of a nuclear-propelled submarine, but is 1,000 times smaller.” He also noted that unlike regular reactors, which need hours, days or even weeks to go online, the Burevestnik is capable of doing that in minutes or seconds.
Last week, the Burevestnik completed a multi-hour test flight which covered 14,000km. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated that the cruise missile successfully performed all designated vertical and horizontal maneuvers and demonstrated its “strong ability to evade anti-missile and air defense systems.”
Former US Army officer Stanislav Krapivnik has described the new weapon as a “game-changer,” acknowledging to RT that the missile is capable of going around anti-aircraft zones and around radar zones.
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