Russia Announces Successful Evaluation of Atomic-Propelled Storm Petrel Missile

Moscow has trialed the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, as stated by the state's senior general.

"We have conducted a prolonged flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000km distance, which is not the limit," Chief of General Staff the commander reported to the Russian leader in a public appearance.

The low-altitude prototype missile, first announced in the past decade, has been hailed as having a possible global reach and the capacity to avoid missile defences.

Foreign specialists have in the past questioned over the missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having accomplished its evaluation.

The head of state said that a "concluding effective evaluation" of the weapon had been carried out in the previous year, but the claim lacked outside validation. Of a minimum of thirteen documented trials, only two had moderate achievement since several years ago, as per an disarmament advocacy body.

Gen Gerasimov reported the missile was in the sky for 15 hours during the test on 21 October.

He explained the weapon's altitude and course adjustments were tested and were found to be up to specification, based on a national news agency.

"As a result, it demonstrated advanced abilities to bypass defensive networks," the outlet reported the general as saying.

The weapon's usefulness has been the subject of vigorous discussion in military and defence circles since it was originally disclosed in the past decade.

A previous study by a US Air Force intelligence center concluded: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would provide the nation a singular system with worldwide reach potential."

Yet, as a foreign policy research organization commented the identical period, the nation faces major obstacles in making the weapon viable.

"Its induction into the nation's inventory potentially relies not only on resolving the significant development hurdle of securing the consistent operation of the nuclear-propulsion unit," experts stated.

"There occurred numerous flight-test failures, and an incident causing a number of casualties."

A armed forces periodical quoted in the report asserts the missile has a range of between a substantial span, allowing "the projectile to be stationed throughout the nation and still be equipped to strike objectives in the United States mainland."

The corresponding source also explains the missile can fly as at minimal altitude as a very low elevation above ground, making it difficult for air defences to engage.

The missile, designated a specific moniker by a Western alliance, is believed to be powered by a nuclear reactor, which is intended to activate after solid fuel rocket boosters have launched it into the sky.

An investigation by a reporting service last year pinpointed a location 295 miles from the city as the possible firing point of the armament.

Using orbital photographs from last summer, an specialist told the agency he had identified nine horizontal launch pads in development at the location.

Associated Updates

• Head of State Endorses Amendments to Strategic Guidelines