Russia Announces Accomplished Test of Atomic-Propelled Storm Petrel Weapon

The nation has evaluated the reactor-driven Burevestnik cruise missile, according to the state's senior general.

"We have executed a multi-hour flight of a atomic-propelled weapon and it traveled a 14,000km distance, which is not the limit," Top Army Official the commander told the head of state in a televised meeting.

The low-altitude advanced armament, originally disclosed in recent years, has been described as having a potentially unlimited range and the ability to avoid anti-missile technology.

Foreign specialists have previously cast doubt over the weapon's military utility and the nation's statements of having successfully tested it.

The national leader declared that a "concluding effective evaluation" of the missile had been carried out in last year, but the statement was not externally confirmed. Of at least 13 known tests, only two had limited accomplishment since several years ago, based on an disarmament advocacy body.

Gen Gerasimov reported the projectile was in the atmosphere for a significant duration during the trial on 21 October.

He explained the weapon's altitude and course adjustments were assessed and were confirmed as up to specification, as per a local reporting service.

"Therefore, it exhibited advanced abilities to evade defensive networks," the outlet stated the general as saying.

The missile's utility has been the topic of heated controversy in defence and strategic sectors since it was initially revealed in recent years.

A recent analysis by a US Air Force intelligence center stated: "A nuclear-powered cruise missile would offer Moscow a singular system with worldwide reach potential."

Nonetheless, as an international strategic institute commented the same year, the nation confronts significant challenges in making the weapon viable.

"Its integration into the country's inventory arguably hinges not only on overcoming the significant development hurdle of guaranteeing the consistent operation of the atomic power system," specialists stated.

"There have been numerous flight-test failures, and a mishap leading to several deaths."

A armed forces periodical referenced in the report asserts the missile has a operational radius of between 6,200 and 12,400 miles, permitting "the weapon to be based anywhere in Russia and still be capable to strike targets in the continental US."

The identical publication also says the projectile can operate as close to the ground as 50 to 100 metres above ground, rendering it challenging for air defences to stop.

The weapon, code-named Skyfall by a foreign security organization, is thought to be propelled by a reactor system, which is designed to engage after initial propulsion units have sent it into the air.

An examination by a reporting service recently identified a location 295 miles from the city as the probable deployment area of the weapon.

Utilizing orbital photographs from last summer, an analyst told the agency he had identified multiple firing positions in development at the facility.