Moscow Confirms Accomplished Evaluation of Atomic-Propelled Burevestnik Missile

Moscow has trialed the nuclear-powered Burevestnik strategic weapon, as stated by the nation's top military official.

"We have conducted a prolonged flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000km distance, which is not the limit," Senior Military Leader the commander told the Russian leader in a broadcast conference.

The low-flying experimental weapon, originally disclosed in the past decade, has been hailed as having a theoretically endless flight path and the capacity to bypass defensive systems.

International analysts have previously cast doubt over the projectile's tactical importance and the nation's statements of having accomplished its evaluation.

The national leader declared that a "concluding effective evaluation" of the missile had been conducted in last year, but the assertion was not externally confirmed. Of over a dozen recorded evaluations, merely a pair had moderate achievement since several years ago, as per an arms control campaign group.

Gen Gerasimov said the missile was in the atmosphere for a significant duration during the test on October 21.

He explained the projectile's ascent and directional control were evaluated and were found to be up to specification, as per a domestic media outlet.

"As a result, it displayed advanced abilities to circumvent defensive networks," the outlet stated the official as saying.

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

A previous study by a American military analysis unit concluded: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would give Russia a distinctive armament with intercontinental range capability."

However, as a global defence think tank observed the corresponding time, Moscow encounters significant challenges in developing a functional system.

"Its induction into the country's stockpile potentially relies not only on resolving the significant development hurdle of ensuring the consistent operation of the nuclear-propulsion unit," specialists wrote.

"There were several flawed evaluations, and a mishap leading to several deaths."

A military journal cited in the analysis states the missile has a range of between 10,000 and 20,000km, allowing "the weapon to be stationed anywhere in Russia and still be capable to target goals in the United States mainland."

The identical publication also notes the weapon can travel as close to the ground as 50 to 100 metres above ground, making it difficult for air defences to stop.

The weapon, designated an operational name by an international defence pact, is considered driven by a atomic power source, which is designed to engage after initial propulsion units have propelled it into the atmosphere.

An examination by a media outlet recently pinpointed a facility 475km north of Moscow as the likely launch site of the weapon.

Employing orbital photographs from August 2024, an specialist told the outlet he had observed multiple firing positions in development at the site.

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