Putin unveils Russia’s new nuclear-powered missile

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of the Burevestnik missile. This nuclear-capable cruise missile, according to Russian officials, can reportedly bypass any missile defense system.

Putin also emphasized that Russia intends to move this weapon into mass production and operational deployment. Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, reported to Putin that during the October 21 test, the missile traveled approximately 14,000 kilometers and remained in flight for about 15 hours.

According to Gerasimov, the missile successfully and accurately bypassed all radar systems along both vertical and horizontal paths and reached its target. He added that the technical capabilities of the missile allow it to strike fortified targets at any distance with precision.

Meanwhile, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping claimed that Russia’s Burevestnik strategic missile could alter the global nuclear power balance. Unlike conventional chemically-fueled missiles, he said, this missile uses nuclear energy, giving it theoretically unlimited range. He also added that Russia is the first country to successfully develop nuclear-powered weapons and nuclear missiles.