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Russia’s Nuclear Cruise Missile

The Burevestnik Test and the Return of Strategic Brinkmanship

Sunday, 26 October 2025 17:32

Abstract

Moscow has announced the successful test of its nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable Burevestnik cruise missile, a weapon President Vladimir Putin claims possesses unlimited range and is 'invincible' to Western defences. The announcement, which follows a troubled development history and a deadly 2019 accident, is a calculated piece of nuclear messaging intended to deter NATO and the United States amid escalating tensions over the war in Ukraine and the looming expiration of the New START treaty.

The Storm Petrel Takes Flight

On Sunday, 26 October 2025, the Kremlin released footage of President Vladimir Putin, dressed in camouflage fatigues, receiving a briefing from General Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces1,7,16. The subject of the meeting was the successful test of the 9M730 Burevestnik intercontinental cruise missile, a weapon known to NATO as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall1,3,8,15,17. General Gerasimov reported that the test had taken place on Tuesday, 21 October, and that the missile had flown for approximately 15 hours, covering a distance of 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles)1,3,6,7,8,12,15. The General stressed that this flight duration and distance were not the upper limit of the weapon’s capability7,8,15,16. President Putin hailed the test as a decisive milestone, declaring that the missile was a 'unique product that nobody else in the world possesses'1,3,5,11,14. He further claimed that the successful launch had 'once again proved the reliability of Russia's nuclear shield'1,8. Following the briefing, the President ordered the military command to begin preparing the necessary infrastructure for the Burevestnik’s deployment into the Russian armed forces1,3,4,5,8,14. The missile is a ground-launched, low-flying system that is designed to carry a nuclear warhead and is powered by a small nuclear reactor4,15. Its primary strategic value, according to Moscow, lies in its ability to evade all existing and future missile defence systems due to its theoretically unlimited range and unpredictable flight path7,8,10,14,15,16.

The Physics of Unlimited Range

The Burevestnik, whose name translates to 'Storm Petrel' in Russian, represents a radical departure from conventional missile design, relying on a nuclear reactor for its sustained propulsion8,15,16. Unlike traditional cruise missiles, which are limited by the finite fuel capacity of their turbojet or turbofan engines, the Burevestnik is designed to activate a miniature nuclear reactor after an initial launch using solid-fuel boosters3,10,15. This reactor superheats the incoming air, which is then expelled to generate thrust, theoretically granting the missile an almost unlimited range and endurance3,4,5,10. This capability would allow the missile to loiter for extended periods and approach targets from unexpected directions, potentially circumnavigating the globe to bypass fixed air-defence geometries7,10,15. The concept of a nuclear-powered cruise missile is not new; both the United States and the Soviet Union explored similar projects during the Cold War, but ultimately shelved them due to the immense technical challenges and the inherent safety hazards4,16. Western arms-control experts have long questioned the technical feasibility and strategic value of the Burevestnik, noting that designing a reactor small and light enough to fly, yet robust enough to withstand extreme temperatures, is a formidable engineering task4,8. The flight parameters disclosed by Russia—14,000 kilometres over 15 hours—demonstrate endurance, but do not necessarily confirm the missile’s terminal survivability against dense, modern integrated air-defence systems7.

The Flying Chernobyl and a Troubled History

The Burevestnik programme has been plagued by a lengthy and troubled testing record, which has led to significant scepticism among Western analysts10,16. According to US intelligence sources and the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Russia has conducted at least 13 known test launches since 2016, with only two being considered partially successful2,3,4,8. The missile’s poor performance led US experts to dub it a 'flying Chernobyl,' a reference to the catastrophic environmental and safety risks associated with its nuclear propulsion system1,8,16. The most serious incident occurred in August 2019 at the Nyonoksa testing site in the Arctic3,4,6,7,16. An explosion during a recovery operation for a crashed missile killed between five and seven scientists and engineers from the state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, and caused a temporary spike in radiation levels in the nearby city of Severodvinsk3,4,6,7. The incident underscored the extreme peril of handling a nuclear-powered missile, particularly one that has crashed, as the reactor core would require a prolonged period, possibly up to two years, to cool down and contain its high-energy radiation6. Furthermore, the missile’s subsonic speed, a consequence of its nuclear propulsion, is a major drawback2,3,10,15. While it can fly low to evade radar, its slower velocity gives enemy defences more time to track and intercept it, potentially making it less effective than Russia’s faster, hypersonic systems like the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile2,3,10.

Strategic Signalling in a Time of War

The timing of the successful test announcement is highly calculated, serving as a potent piece of nuclear signalling directed at the West11,12,16. The news was released just days after reports that the US administration had eased restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles against targets inside Russia11,16. Moscow has repeatedly warned NATO allies against authorising strikes deep inside Russian territory, suggesting such actions would provoke a 'very serious, if not overwhelming' response11,16. The Burevestnik test, therefore, acts as a reminder of Russia’s formidable nuclear capabilities and its willingness to escalate tensions11,12. The announcement also followed large-scale drills of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces, which involved all components of its nuclear triad, including test-firings of intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers7,14,15. This coordinated display of military might is intended to project strength and resilience amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russian forces are slowly gaining ground3,12,13. The missile is presented by the Kremlin as a direct response to US missile defence initiatives and the continued expansion of NATO, emphasising Russia’s ability to strike back if attacked10,12. Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, signed in November 2024, further specifies that an aggression against the Russian Federation by a non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear state would be considered a joint attack, a clear reference to the conflict in Ukraine9.

Conclusion

The successful test of the Burevestnik missile, if the Kremlin’s claims are accurate, marks a significant technological achievement for Russia, demonstrating a sustained flight capability that had previously eluded its engineers14. However, the weapon’s true significance is less about its technical prowess and more about its political utility as an instrument of strategic deterrence7,12. By showcasing a weapon with a theoretically unlimited range and an unpredictable flight path, Moscow is attempting to complicate Western defence planning and reinforce its nuclear shield narrative1,7,15. The announcement is a clear message to Washington and NATO that Russia remains a formidable nuclear power, particularly as the New START treaty, the last major arms control agreement between the US and Russia, is set to expire in 20262,5. The Burevestnik, with its history of failures and its inherent environmental risks, embodies the high-stakes nature of this renewed strategic competition, where the pursuit of 'invincible' weapons risks reigniting a costly and dangerous nuclear arms race2,4,16.

References

  1. Russia announces successful test of Burevestnik intercontinental nuclear missile

    Supports the missile name, the date of the announcement, Putin's 'unique' and 'invincible' claims, the test parameters (14,000km, 15 hours), and the 'flying Chernobyl' nickname.

  2. Burevestnik nuclear missile: Russia is developing 'invincible' weapon capable of evading radars, missile systems

    Provides details on the missile's poor test record (11 failures, 2 partial successes), its subsonic speed drawback, and the link to the expiring New START treaty in 2026.

  3. Russia Fires World's 1st Nuke-Powered Cruise Missile, Burevestnik; Putin Calls It A Weapon "No One Else Possesses"

    Confirms the test date (Tuesday), the flight distance (14,000km), the technical mechanism (conventional launch, nuclear reactor for sustained propulsion), the 2019 Nyonoksa accident details (seven scientists killed, radiation spike), and the missile's large size.

  4. Security Tech Brief - Hertie School: Burevestnik

    Details the US intelligence assessment of 13 tests with little success, the 2019 explosion killing five scientists, the release of radioactivity, and the historical context of the US cancelling similar projects due to technical and safety challenges.

  5. Putin Touts Successful Tests Of Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile - RFE/RL

    Confirms Putin's order to prepare infrastructure for deployment and the context of the war in Ukraine dragging on.

  6. BASIC Brief: Burevestnik

    Provides specific details on the 2019 accident recovery, including the need to wait two years for the reactor to cool down, and the environmental hazard posed by a crash.

  7. Russia Declares 9M730 Burevestnik Nuclear Cruise Missile Test Marks Global-Reach Capability - Army Recognition

    Confirms the test date (Oct 21), flight parameters (14,000km, 15 hours), Gerasimov's 'not the limit' statement, and the Western focus on endurance versus terminal survivability.

  8. Russia Tests “Unlimited‑Range” Burevestnik Nuclear Missile. Here's What We Know

    Confirms the 'flying Chernobyl' nickname, the missile's designation (SSC-X-9 Skyfall), Putin's 'unique weapon' claim, and the need for 'significant work' before combat duty.

  9. Russia's old-new nuclear doctrine - REUNIR

    Provides context on Russia's updated nuclear doctrine (November 2024) and the specific clause about aggression by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear state being a joint attack.

  10. 'Flying Chernobyl': Can Russia's new nuclear-powered missile be a game-changer?

    Explains the missile's low-altitude flight path to evade radar, its subsonic speed vulnerability compared to the Sarmat ICBM, and the link to construction near the Vologda nuclear warhead storage facility.

  11. Russia Tests Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile Amid Rising Tensions with West

    Supports the strategic timing of the test, linking it to the easing of restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western long-range missiles and Moscow's warning of a 'very serious' response.

  12. Russia Tests Burevestnik, a New Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile - Modern Diplomacy

    Confirms the test date (Oct 21), flight parameters, and the strategic messaging that the missile is a response to US missile defence and NATO expansion.

  13. Putin Says Russia Successfully Tested 'Burevestnik' Nuclear-Powered Missile

    Provides the context of stalled peace talks, US President Donald Trump's mediation efforts, and new US sanctions on Russian oil companies (Rosneft and Lukoil).

  14. Russia Tests New Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Cruise Missile | Indian Defence News

    Confirms the test date (Oct 21), the claim that the missile operated entirely on nuclear propulsion, and the context of the test following strategic nuclear exercises.

  15. Putin claims Russia successfully tested new nuclear-powered cruise missile

    Confirms the missile's designation (9M730), its 'invincible' claim, and Gerasimov's statement that the missile flew on nuclear power for a long distance.

  16. Russia tested a new nuclear-capable missile, Putin says - CBS News

    Confirms the Burevestnik's designation (Storm Petrel), the US/Soviet Cold War abandonment of similar projects due to hazards, and the context of resisting Western pressure for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

  17. Putin says Russia completed tests of nuclear-powered cruise missile - China Daily HK

    Confirms the missile's full designation (9M730 Burevestnik) and Gerasimov's claim of high capabilities for evading anti-missile and air defence systems.