Russia Announces Accomplished Trial of Atomic-Propelled Storm Petrel Weapon

The nation has evaluated the atomic-propelled Burevestnik long-range missile, as reported by the country's leading commander.

"We have executed a prolonged flight of a reactor-driven projectile and it traversed a vast distance, which is not the ultimate range," Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov informed the Russian leader in a public appearance.

The low-flying experimental weapon, originally disclosed in recent years, has been described as having a possible global reach and the capacity to bypass missile defences.

Western experts have previously cast doubt over the missile's strategic value and Moscow's assertions of having successfully tested it.

The national leader declared that a "final successful test" of the weapon had been conducted in last year, but the assertion could not be independently verified. Of over a dozen recorded evaluations, just two instances had partial success since several years ago, based on an arms control campaign group.

Gen Gerasimov stated the projectile was in the air for 15 hours during the test on 21 October.

He noted the projectile's ascent and directional control were evaluated and were confirmed as meeting requirements, as per a local reporting service.

"As a result, it demonstrated advanced abilities to evade anti-missile and aerial protection," the outlet reported the official as saying.

The projectile's application has been the focus of vigorous discussion in armed forces and security communities since it was first announced in 2018.

A previous study by a US Air Force intelligence center stated: "An atomic-propelled strategic weapon would provide the nation a distinctive armament with worldwide reach potential."

Yet, as a global defence think tank noted the same year, Russia faces considerable difficulties in achieving operational status.

"Its entry into the nation's arsenal potentially relies not only on resolving the significant development hurdle of ensuring the dependable functioning of the reactor drive mechanism," specialists stated.

"There occurred several flawed evaluations, and an accident causing multiple fatalities."

A armed forces periodical quoted in the analysis asserts the weapon has a flight distance of between a substantial span, allowing "the projectile to be based anywhere in Russia and still be capable to target goals in the United States mainland."

The corresponding source also says the projectile can travel as at minimal altitude as a very low elevation above the surface, causing complexity for air defences to engage.

The weapon, code-named an operational name by an international defence pact, is thought to be propelled by a nuclear reactor, which is intended to engage after primary launch mechanisms have propelled it into the air.

An inquiry by a media outlet the previous year identified a location a considerable distance north of Moscow as the possible firing point of the armament.

Using satellite imagery from last summer, an expert informed the agency he had observed nine horizontal launch pads under construction at the site.

Related Developments

• National Leader Approves Amendments to Atomic Policy