Russia tests ÒinvincibleÓ cruise missile

President Vladimir Putin says Russia has successfully tested its
nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile, which Moscow claims can pierce
any defence shield, and will move towards deploying the weapon

Oct 26: RussiaÕs
top general, Valery
Gerasimov, tells
Putin that missile
travelled 14,000km
and was airborne
for about 15 hours
when it was tested
on Oct 21

Moscow says Burevestnik is
invincible to current and future missile
defences, with almost unlimited range
and unpredictable flight path

RUSSIA
Moscow
Pankovo test site
Novaya Zemlya
Barents
Sea
Kara
Sea
800km
500 miles

9M730 BUREVESTNIK
(NATO name SSC-X-9 Skyfall)

Missile length (in flight)
9 metres

Speed
Subsonic

Flight altitude
50-100m

Notional range
20,000km

Angular design
minimises radar
signature

Conventional
or nuclear
warhead

Missile powered by miniature
nuclear reactor, theoretically
enabling it to stay aloft for days

Guidance system

Swept wings

Nuclear-powered propulsion system: Activates after missile reaches
sufficient speed following launch assisted by rocket booster

1
Inlet: Air drawn
into engine by turbine
is compressed

2
Reactor: Powers
electric motor that
drives turbine

3
Exhaust: Superheated
and possibly radioactive air
generates forward thrust

1
2
3

Missile
body

Compressor

Turbine

Airflow over reactor prevents it from overheating

Sources: IISS, Reuters, Stratfor
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