Russia Claims Testing Complete of 'Burevestnik' Nuclear-powered Cruise Missile

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that the ‘Burevestnik’ nuclear-powered cruise missile, an ultra-long-range missile has completed its “final test.”

"Right now, we have actually completed work on advanced strategic weapons that I spoke about and announced several years ago. We conducted the last successful test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered global-range cruise missile," Putin said.

This indicates that the tests have been successful and that the missile could be ready for deployment.

The Burevestnik, also known as Skyfall by NATO, is a mysterious and controversial weapon with limited information available. Western experts are skeptical of its nuclear engine due to potential reliability issues, while it's believed to carry either nuclear or conventional warheads and boasts extended range and flight capabilities, as declared by President Putin in 2018. Despite these claims, doubts persist, and both the U.S. and the Soviet Union shelved similar nuclear-powered rocket engine projects during the Cold War due to safety concerns.

In August 2019, a tragic explosion occurred during Burevestnik testing in the White Sea, resulting in casualties and a brief spike in radioactivity. Russia, although not officially confirming, was attributed to the incident by the U.S. It's reported that Burevestnik testing facilities are located in the Arctic Novaya Zemlya archipelago.

The missile, designated SSC-X-9 Skyfall, possesses a range exceeding 10,000 miles but has faced numerous failed trials, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

The Burevestnik missile is launched by a conventional rocket motor while the nuclear reactor powered engine takes over in flight providing it unlimited range and loitering ability.