Russia Reports Effective Evaluation of Reactor-Driven Storm Petrel Weapon

Russia has tested the atomic-propelled Burevestnik long-range missile, according to the state's leading commander.

"We have conducted a multi-hour flight of a reactor-driven projectile and it traveled a 8,700-mile distance, which is not the maximum," Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov informed the Russian leader in a broadcast conference.

The low-altitude experimental weapon, originally disclosed in the past decade, has been hailed as having a theoretically endless flight path and the ability to evade defensive systems.

Western experts have previously cast doubt over the projectile's tactical importance and Russian claims of having accomplished its evaluation.

The national leader declared that a "last accomplished trial" of the missile had been carried out in the previous year, but the assertion could not be independently verified. Of a minimum of thirteen documented trials, only two had moderate achievement since 2016, as per an non-proliferation organization.

Gen Gerasimov said the projectile was in the air for 15 hours during the trial on 21 October.

He said the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were tested and were found to be meeting requirements, according to a national news agency.

"Consequently, it displayed high capabilities to circumvent defensive networks," the media source stated the commander as saying.

The projectile's application has been the focus of intense debate in armed forces and security communities since it was first announced in recent years.

A 2021 report by a American military analysis unit concluded: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would provide the nation a distinctive armament with worldwide reach potential."

Yet, as an international strategic institute commented the same year, Russia encounters considerable difficulties in achieving operational status.

"Its induction into the country's stockpile likely depends not only on resolving the substantial engineering obstacle of ensuring the dependable functioning of the atomic power system," specialists stated.

"There were several flawed evaluations, and an incident causing a number of casualties."

A military journal cited in the report states the projectile has a range of between 6,200 and 12,400 miles, permitting "the projectile to be deployed throughout the nation and still be able to strike goals in the American territory."

The same journal also says the missile can fly as low as 50 to 100 metres above the surface, causing complexity for air defences to engage.

The weapon, code-named an operational name by a foreign security organization, is thought to be driven by a nuclear reactor, which is designed to engage after primary launch mechanisms have sent it into the air.

An inquiry by a news agency recently located a facility 295 miles north of Moscow as the probable deployment area of the armament.

Utilizing space-based photos from last summer, an expert reported to the service he had detected nine horizontal launch pads in development at the facility.

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