Moscow Confirms Successful Trial of Atomic-Propelled Burevestnik Missile

Moscow has trialed the nuclear-powered Burevestnik long-range missile, as reported by the country's top military official.

"We have conducted a extended flight of a atomic-propelled weapon and it covered a 8,700-mile distance, which is not the maximum," Senior Military Leader the general told the head of state in a broadcast conference.

The terrain-hugging prototype missile, originally disclosed in 2018, has been hailed as having a potentially unlimited range and the ability to evade missile defences.

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

The president declared that a "final successful test" of the armament had been held in the previous year, but the assertion could not be independently verified. Of a minimum of thirteen documented trials, only two had partial success since 2016, based on an non-proliferation organization.

Gen Gerasimov reported the missile was in the atmosphere for fifteen hours during the test on 21 October.

He explained the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were assessed and were determined to be meeting requirements, based on a local reporting service.

"Therefore, it exhibited advanced abilities to evade anti-missile and aerial protection," the outlet reported the official as saying.

The projectile's application has been the subject of heated controversy in armed forces and security communities since it was initially revealed in recent years.

A previous study by a American military analysis unit stated: "A reactor-driven long-range projectile would provide the nation a unique weapon with intercontinental range capability."

Yet, as a global defence think tank observed the same year, Moscow encounters considerable difficulties in developing a functional system.

"Its induction into the country's inventory arguably hinges not only on overcoming the significant development hurdle of securing the reliable performance of the nuclear-propulsion unit," analysts stated.

"There have been several flawed evaluations, and an incident resulting in several deaths."

A defence publication referenced in the study claims the missile has a operational radius of between a substantial span, allowing "the missile to be deployed across the country and still be able to strike goals in the United States mainland."

The same journal also notes the weapon can travel as low as 164 to 328 feet above the earth, rendering it challenging for aerial protection systems to intercept.

The weapon, code-named Skyfall by an international defence pact, is considered driven by a atomic power source, which is supposed to commence operation after solid fuel rocket boosters have launched it into the air.

An inquiry by a news agency recently located a facility a considerable distance from the city as the possible firing point of the armament.

Utilizing satellite imagery from August 2024, an specialist reported to the agency he had observed nine horizontal launch pads under construction at the site.

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