 |
| The Burevestnik missile leaves the launch pad during a test in 2018. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense) |
This is the first time Russia has announced a successful test of Burevestnik, since launching the missile in 2018 and experiencing several failed launches.
The Russian leader said the missile is nuclear-powered, has "global range" and has no range limit. The Kremlin chief also claimed that Burevestnik has "unlimited range" and "challenges all existing air defense systems."
Burevestnik - "storm peter", is a low-flying, ground-launched cruise missile that is not only capable of carrying a nuclear warhead but also uses a nuclear engine.
President Vladimir Putin first revealed the missile project in March 2018.
The Burevestnik's nuclear propulsion gives the missile a much longer range than traditional jet or turbofan engines, which are limited by the amount of fuel they can carry.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies said the Burevestnik would have a theoretical range of up to 20,000km, so it could be placed anywhere in Russia and strike targets in the US.
According to the Russian military magazine, the Burevestnik missile can descend to an altitude of 50-100m, much lower than conventional cruise missiles, which will make it more difficult for air defense radars to detect.
If Russia successfully puts the Burevestnik into service, it would give Moscow a "unique weapon with intercontinental capabilities," the US National Air and Space Intelligence Center wrote in a 2020 report.
Source
Comment (0)