Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a successful final test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile over the weekend, marking a significant development in Moscow’s strategic weapons arsenal amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Experts assess the very-long-range weapon as designed to circumvent Western air defenses through terrain-hugging, low-altitude flight capabilities, though its immediate strategic impact remains constrained.
Technical Specifications – Burevestnik Missile
Putin first unveiled the Burevestnik Missile’s development in 2018, prior to Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, declaring Sunday’s test successful. Unlike conventional chemical-fueled missiles, the Burevestnik—meaning “storm bird” in Russian—employs a nuclear reactor for propulsion.
“The reactor heats the ambient air and expels it at high speed to generate thrust,” explained Amaury Dufay, expert at France’s Strategy and Defence Studies Institute. “This allows for considerably longer flight time and range. It’s a bit as if you had a car engine that consumes less for each 100 km (60 miles).”
During the October 21 test, the missile flew approximately 15 hours, covering 14,000 kilometers—sufficient range to reach the United States.
“Its aim is to fly for a long time, very low, between 15 and 200 metres (49 to 650 feet), which complicates detection,” Dufay noted, suggesting potential circuitous routes through less-defended areas.
However, the missile’s relatively slow speed impacts maneuverability, according to French nuclear expert Heloise Fayet.
Strategic Purpose
The weapon aims to evade air defenses, including US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile shield, Russian analyst Dmitry Stefanovich explained on X.
Fayet suggested the Burevestnik Missile could complement traditional missiles. “With its manoeuvring abilities and unlimited range,” it could be deployed for “harassing and weakening missile defences” before conventional strikes.
Current Limitations
Despite Putin ordering necessary deployment infrastructure, the missile’s strategic impact remains limited. “The missile is not yet operational—there isn’t for the moment any deployment infrastructure, no doctrine for its use,” Fayet stated.
She characterized it as “an attempt by Putin to continue to exhaust Trump on the nuclear and missile defence issues,” describing the Burevestnik as a “destabilisation weapon.”
Radiation Concerns
Regarding radioactivity risks, Fayet noted Norway’s radiation monitoring agency detected nothing despite the test passing through its coverage area. However, Dufay believes contamination likely occurred, stating: “The missile itself is radioactive once the reactor is activated.”
