Russia Announces Accomplished Test of Atomic-Propelled Storm Petrel Cruise Missile
Russia has tested the atomic-propelled Burevestnik cruise missile, as reported by the nation's senior general.
"We have launched a multi-hour flight of a reactor-driven projectile and it covered a 14,000km distance, which is not the limit," Chief of General Staff the commander told President Vladimir Putin in a public appearance.
The low-flying advanced armament, originally disclosed in recent years, has been described as having a theoretically endless flight path and the capability to evade missile defences.
International analysts have earlier expressed skepticism over the missile's strategic value and Russian claims of having effectively trialed it.
The national leader stated that a "last accomplished trial" of the missile had been conducted in last year, but the claim lacked outside validation. Of at least 13 known tests, merely a pair had moderate achievement since 2016, based on an arms control campaign group.
The military leader reported the missile was in the atmosphere for a significant duration during the test on October 21.
He noted the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were evaluated and were found to be up to specification, as per a domestic media outlet.
"Consequently, it displayed high capabilities to evade missile and air defence systems," the outlet stated the commander as saying.
The projectile's application has been the subject of vigorous discussion in defence and strategic sectors since it was originally disclosed in 2018.
A 2021 report by a US Air Force intelligence center stated: "A reactor-driven long-range projectile would give Russia a singular system with worldwide reach potential."
Yet, as an international strategic institute commented the corresponding time, Russia encounters considerable difficulties in achieving operational status.
"Its integration into the country's stockpile likely depends not only on overcoming the substantial engineering obstacle of guaranteeing the reliable performance of the reactor drive mechanism," experts noted.
"There occurred several flawed evaluations, and an accident resulting in multiple fatalities."
A military journal referenced in the analysis claims the missile has a range of between 10,000 and 20,000km, allowing "the missile to be deployed anywhere in Russia and still be equipped to target targets in the continental US."
The corresponding source also explains the weapon can operate as at minimal altitude as 164 to 328 feet above the earth, causing complexity for air defences to stop.
The weapon, code-named an operational name by a foreign security organization, is thought to be driven by a reactor system, which is supposed to activate after primary launch mechanisms have launched it into the sky.
An inquiry by a media outlet recently pinpointed a location 295 miles above the capital as the likely launch site of the missile.
Employing orbital photographs from last summer, an expert reported to the outlet he had detected several deployment sites under construction at the facility.
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