Russia Confirms Successful Evaluation of Nuclear-Powered Storm Petrel Cruise Missile

The nation has evaluated the reactor-driven Burevestnik long-range missile, as reported by the country's leading commander.

"We have launched a multi-hour flight of a atomic-propelled weapon and it traversed a 8,700-mile distance, which is not the limit," Senior Military Leader the general reported to the Russian leader in a public appearance.

The low-flying experimental weapon, originally disclosed in the past decade, has been hailed as having a potentially unlimited range and the capacity to avoid anti-missile technology.

Western experts have previously cast doubt over the projectile's tactical importance and Moscow's assertions of having effectively trialed it.

The president declared that a "last accomplished trial" of the missile had been held in last year, but the claim lacked outside validation. Of at least 13 known tests, only two had limited accomplishment since the mid-2010s, according to an arms control campaign group.

Gen Gerasimov stated the missile was in the air for 15 hours during the test on the specified date.

He noted the missile's vertical and horizontal manoeuvring were evaluated and were determined to be meeting requirements, as per a domestic media outlet.

"Consequently, it exhibited high capabilities to evade defensive networks," the media source reported the official as saying.

The missile's utility has been the focus of intense debate in defence and strategic sectors since it was first announced in recent years.

A recent analysis by a US Air Force intelligence center determined: "An atomic-propelled strategic weapon would give Russia a singular system with worldwide reach potential."

Nonetheless, as an international strategic institute commented the same year, the nation faces significant challenges in achieving operational status.

"Its integration into the nation's arsenal potentially relies not only on resolving the considerable technical challenge of securing the consistent operation of the nuclear-propulsion unit," analysts noted.

"There have been multiple unsuccessful trials, and an incident leading to a number of casualties."

A military journal quoted in the study claims the projectile has a flight distance of between 6,200 and 12,400 miles, permitting "the weapon to be stationed throughout the nation and still be able to reach objectives in the United States mainland."

The identical publication also says the weapon can fly as low as 164 to 328 feet above the surface, causing complexity for air defences to engage.

The missile, designated a specific moniker by a Western alliance, is believed to be driven by a atomic power source, which is supposed to commence operation after primary launch mechanisms have sent it into the sky.

An investigation by a media outlet the previous year located a facility 475km above the capital as the likely launch site of the missile.

Using space-based photos from last summer, an specialist informed the outlet he had observed nine horizontal launch pads being built at the location.

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