Russian officials announced Sunday the successful test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, a weapon they describe as “invincible” and capable of penetrating any existing missile defense system.
The announcement was made by Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia’s armed forces, in a report to President Vladimir Putin. According to Gerasimov, the 9M730 Burevestnik cruise missile travelled approximately 14,000 kilometers over a period of fifteen hours during the test.
In remarks released by the Kremlin, President Putin hailed the Burevestnik, which NATO has dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall, as a “unique weapon” with near-unlimited range. He confirmed plans to move the system toward deployment, stating the test demonstrates that Russia’s nuclear deterrent is at its “highest level.”
Russian authorities claim the missile’s nuclear propulsion gives it an unlimited operational range and an unpredictable flight path, making it impossible for current missile defense networks to intercept.
The development has drawn concern from international security analysts. Jeffrey Lewis, director of the non-proliferation program at the Middlebury Institute, acknowledged the technological achievement but contextualized it as part of a worrying global trend.
“While Russia is ‘crazy enough’ to build a nuclear-powered missile, they are not the only country that has that capability,” Lewis said Sunday. He characterized the test as a sign of a “deepening nuclear arms race.”
Lewis explained the weapon’s strategic purpose: “The system is intended to defeat a missile defense. And so the idea is because it can fly for basically an unlimited range, then it can fly around defenses.” However, he expressed skepticism about Russian claims of invincibility, suggesting countermeasures could be developed.
The public nature of the announcement, Lewis noted, is a deliberate act of signaling. “We’re seeing countries use nuclear threats more and more to get their way in the world,” he said. “The reason Putin is doing this… is because he wants to send a certain message.”
While Lewis stated that Russia is currently the only nation to have pursued such a weapon, he concluded, “It doesn’t mean that Russia is the only country that could build such a thing. It’s just other countries I think have thought better of it.”