Moscow Confirms Effective Trial of Nuclear-Powered Storm Petrel Weapon

The nation has evaluated the nuclear-powered Burevestnik strategic weapon, as reported by the nation's leading commander.

"We have executed a prolonged flight of a atomic-propelled weapon and it traveled a 8,700-mile distance, which is not the limit," Senior Military Leader the commander informed the head of state in a broadcast conference.

The terrain-hugging prototype missile, first announced in the past decade, has been hailed as having a possible global reach and the capability to avoid anti-missile technology.

International analysts have earlier expressed skepticism over the projectile's tactical importance and Russian claims of having successfully tested it.

The president said that a "concluding effective evaluation" of the missile had been held in last year, but the claim was not externally confirmed. Of a minimum of thirteen documented trials, just two instances had partial success since 2016, based on an arms control campaign group.

Gen Gerasimov said the projectile was in the air for 15 hours during the evaluation on 21 October.

He said the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were tested and were found to be up to specification, based on a local reporting service.

"Consequently, it displayed high capabilities to circumvent missile and air defence systems," the media source reported the commander as saying.

The projectile's application has been the topic of intense debate in military and defence circles since it was initially revealed in 2018.

A 2021 report by a foreign defence research body determined: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would give Russia a distinctive armament with worldwide reach potential."

Yet, as an international strategic institute observed the same year, the nation faces significant challenges in making the weapon viable.

"Its integration into the nation's arsenal potentially relies not only on resolving the significant development hurdle of securing the dependable functioning of the atomic power system," experts stated.

"There were numerous flight-test failures, and a mishap causing a number of casualties."

A defence publication quoted in the study asserts the missile has a operational radius of between 10,000 and 20,000km, allowing "the missile to be deployed across the country and still be able to reach goals in the American territory."

The same journal also notes the missile can fly as at minimal altitude as 50 to 100 metres above the earth, rendering it challenging for air defences to engage.

The weapon, code-named Skyfall by an international defence pact, is considered driven by a nuclear reactor, which is intended to engage after solid fuel rocket boosters have launched it into the sky.

An investigation by a media outlet last year located a facility a considerable distance north of Moscow as the probable deployment area of the missile.

Utilizing space-based photos from August 2024, an expert informed the agency he had observed nine horizontal launch pads being built at the location.

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