Russia Reports Successful Evaluation of Atomic-Propelled Burevestnik Weapon
The nation has evaluated the nuclear-powered Burevestnik strategic weapon, as reported by the state's senior general.
"We have launched a extended flight of a reactor-driven projectile and it traversed a vast distance, which is not the ultimate range," Senior Military Leader Valery Gerasimov informed President Vladimir Putin in a public appearance.
The low-altitude prototype missile, initially revealed in the past decade, has been portrayed as having a possible global reach and the capacity to evade defensive systems.
Western experts have earlier expressed skepticism over the projectile's tactical importance and Russian claims of having effectively trialed it.
The head of state declared that a "concluding effective evaluation" of the weapon had been carried out in 2023, but the statement could not be independently verified. Of a minimum of thirteen documented trials, only two had limited accomplishment since the mid-2010s, according to an arms control campaign group.
The general stated the projectile was in the air for a significant duration during the test on the specified date.
He explained the weapon's altitude and course adjustments were tested and were determined to be meeting requirements, as per a local reporting service.
"As a result, it demonstrated advanced abilities to bypass missile and air defence systems," the outlet reported the general as saying.
The projectile's application has been the subject of vigorous discussion in military and defence circles since it was first announced in recent years.
A previous study by a American military analysis unit determined: "An atomic-propelled strategic weapon would offer Moscow a unique weapon with worldwide reach potential."
Nonetheless, as an international strategic institute noted the same year, Russia confronts significant challenges in developing a functional system.
"Its integration into the nation's stockpile arguably hinges not only on surmounting the significant development hurdle of securing the dependable functioning of the reactor drive mechanism," analysts wrote.
"There occurred several flawed evaluations, and an accident leading to a number of casualties."
A defence publication cited in the report claims the weapon has a range of between 10,000 and 20,000km, permitting "the projectile to be stationed throughout the nation and still be capable to target objectives in the American territory."
The same journal also notes the weapon can fly as close to the ground as 50 to 100 metres above the earth, making it difficult for aerial protection systems to engage.
The missile, code-named an operational name by a Western alliance, is thought to be powered by a atomic power source, which is supposed to engage after initial propulsion units have sent it into the air.
An examination by a reporting service the previous year located a facility a considerable distance from the city as the probable deployment area of the missile.
Using satellite imagery from last summer, an specialist reported to the agency he had detected nine horizontal launch pads in development at the location.
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