Russia Announces Successful Test of Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile

Moscow has trialed the atomic-propelled Burevestnik strategic weapon, according to the state's senior general.

"We have conducted a extended flight of a atomic-propelled weapon and it traveled a 14,000km distance, which is not the limit," Senior Military Leader the general told President Vladimir Putin in a public appearance.

The low-flying advanced armament, initially revealed in recent years, has been described as having a possible global reach and the capability to avoid missile defences.

International analysts have earlier expressed skepticism over the missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having effectively trialed it.

The head of state stated that a "last accomplished trial" of the armament had been held in last year, but the claim lacked outside validation. Of at least 13 known tests, only two had partial success since several years ago, as per an arms control campaign group.

The general said the missile was in the air for a significant duration during the trial on October 21.

He explained the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were evaluated and were confirmed as complying with standards, based on a national news agency.

"As a result, it displayed advanced abilities to circumvent anti-missile and aerial protection," the news agency quoted the commander as saying.

The weapon's usefulness has been the subject of vigorous discussion in defence and strategic sectors since it was initially revealed in 2018.

A 2021 report by a American military analysis unit concluded: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would offer Moscow a distinctive armament with global strike capacity."

Nonetheless, as a global defence think tank observed the same year, Moscow confronts major obstacles in making the weapon viable.

"Its integration into the state's inventory arguably hinges not only on surmounting the substantial engineering obstacle of ensuring the consistent operation of the nuclear-propulsion unit," analysts stated.

"There were multiple unsuccessful trials, and a mishap leading to multiple fatalities."

A armed forces periodical quoted in the report states the projectile has a range of between 10,000 and 20,000km, allowing "the projectile to be deployed anywhere in Russia and still be equipped to reach objectives in the American territory."

The same journal also explains the projectile can travel as close to the ground as 164 to 328 feet above the surface, making it difficult for air defences to engage.

The weapon, designated a specific moniker by a Western alliance, is believed to be powered by a reactor system, which is supposed to commence operation after primary launch mechanisms have sent it into the atmosphere.

An examination by a reporting service the previous year identified a location a considerable distance from the city as the probable deployment area of the weapon.

Using satellite imagery from the recent past, an expert reported to the service he had detected several deployment sites in development at the facility.

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