Monday, 27 October, 2025
President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday that Russia had conducted a test of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile — a weapon he described as “unique.” Below are key facts about the missile and its reported capabilities.
The Missile: The 9M730 Burevestnik—meaning “storm petrel” in Russian—is a ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile powered by a nuclear engine and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. NATO designates it the SSC-X-9 Skyfall.
Origins and Range: First unveiled by Putin in March 2018, the missile is said to have unlimited range and the ability to evade U.S. missile defences. Western analysts, however, question its practical value, warning that a nuclear-powered engine could release radiation along its route.
Latest Test: During the October 21 test, Russia’s Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, reported that the missile flew 14,000 km (8,700 miles) over 15 hours, using nuclear propulsion. He said the system could defeat any existing missile defence and maintain continuous flight for extended periods.
Propulsion and Design: The missile’s nuclear engine is designed to outperform conventional jet engines limited by onboard fuel. This enables the Burevestnik to “loiter” for long durations, possibly for days, before striking its target. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the missile could circle the globe at low altitude, bypassing defences and attacking from unpredictable directions.
Strategic Role: While some Western experts point out that its subsonic speed makes it more detectable and vulnerable, Russian analyst Alexei Leonkov said its purpose would be to destroy remaining enemy targets after an initial intercontinental ballistic missile strike—reducing adversaries “to the Stone Age.”
Estimated Range and Altitude: A 2021 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, citing a Russian military journal, suggested the missile could have a range of up to 20,000 km (12,400 miles) and fly at altitudes of 50–100 metres (164–328 feet)—low enough to evade radar detection.
U.S. Intelligence Assessment: The U.S. Air Force’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center said in 2020 that if operational, the Burevestnik would give Moscow a unique intercontinental-range weapon unlike any other.
Testing Record: The missile’s development has been marred by accidents. In 2019, an explosion during testing in the White Sea killed at least five nuclear specialists, releasing radiation. U.S. intelligence believed the blast was linked to the Burevestnik project. Putin later awarded state honours to the victims’ families, calling their work “without equal.”
Probable Deployment Site: U.S. researchers reported in 2024 that the likely deployment site is near Vologda-20 (Chebsara), a nuclear warhead storage facility about 475 km (295 miles) north of Moscow.
Putin previously announced a successful Burevestnik test in October 2023, and Russian officials maintain the system represents a breakthrough in nuclear deterrence technology.
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President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday that Russia had conducted a test of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile — a weapon he described as “unique.” Below are key facts about the missile and its reported capabilities.
The Missile: The 9M730 Burevestnik—meaning “storm petrel” in Russian—is a ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile powered by a nuclear engine and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. NATO designates it the SSC-X-9 Skyfall.
Origins and Range: First unveiled by Putin in March 2018, the missile is said to have unlimited range and the ability to evade U.S. missile defences. Western analysts, however, question its practical value, warning that a nuclear-powered engine could release radiation along its route.
Latest Test: During the October 21 test, Russia’s Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, reported that the missile flew 14,000 km (8,700 miles) over 15 hours, using nuclear propulsion. He said the system could defeat any existing missile defence and maintain continuous flight for extended periods.
Propulsion and Design: The missile’s nuclear engine is designed to outperform conventional jet engines limited by onboard fuel. This enables the Burevestnik to “loiter” for long durations, possibly for days, before striking its target. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the missile could circle the globe at low altitude, bypassing defences and attacking from unpredictable directions.
Strategic Role: While some Western experts point out that its subsonic speed makes it more detectable and vulnerable, Russian analyst Alexei Leonkov said its purpose would be to destroy remaining enemy targets after an initial intercontinental ballistic missile strike—reducing adversaries “to the Stone Age.”
Estimated Range and Altitude: A 2021 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, citing a Russian military journal, suggested the missile could have a range of up to 20,000 km (12,400 miles) and fly at altitudes of 50–100 metres (164–328 feet)—low enough to evade radar detection.
U.S. Intelligence Assessment: The U.S. Air Force’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center said in 2020 that if operational, the Burevestnik would give Moscow a unique intercontinental-range weapon unlike any other.
Testing Record: The missile’s development has been marred by accidents. In 2019, an explosion during testing in the White Sea killed at least five nuclear specialists, releasing radiation. U.S. intelligence believed the blast was linked to the Burevestnik project. Putin later awarded state honours to the victims’ families, calling their work “without equal.”
Probable Deployment Site: U.S. researchers reported in 2024 that the likely deployment site is near Vologda-20 (Chebsara), a nuclear warhead storage facility about 475 km (295 miles) north of Moscow.
Putin previously announced a successful Burevestnik test in October 2023, and Russian officials maintain the system represents a breakthrough in nuclear deterrence technology.
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