Russia has reportedly conducted a test of the Burevestnik, a nuclear-capable and nuclear-powered cruise missile, which President Vladimir Putin claims can bypass existing defence systems. Video footage released on Sunday showed Putin in camouflage meeting senior military officials, with General Valery Gerasimov stating that the missile travelled 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles) during a test on October 21, remaining airborne for 15 hours.
The Burevestnik, also known as Storm Petrel or SSC-X-9 Skyfall, is a ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile with a nuclear propulsion system designed to give it almost unlimited range. Putin first revealed the project in March 2018, asserting it can evade U.S. missile defences. However, some Western experts question its strategic value, noting it may not add new capabilities and could release radiation along its flight path.
The missile's nuclear propulsion allows it to loiter for extended periods, potentially days, before striking a target. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, it could carry nuclear warheads, circle the globe at low altitude, avoid missile defences, and drop warheads at unpredictable locations. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates a notional range of up to 20,000 km (12,400 miles), enabling it to strike targets in the United States from anywhere in Russia.
Despite its capabilities, the Burevestnik has a poor test record with numerous past failures. In 2019, at least five Russian nuclear specialists were killed in an explosion during a test. Western experts also note its subsonic speed makes it detectable, and its low altitude (50-100 metres) may pose challenges for air-defence radar. If successfully deployed, the U.S. Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center says it would give Moscow a unique intercontinental-range weapon.
