Russia tests Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile

A montage of images taken from video footage purporting to show Russia's Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile being launched and in flight during an earlier test. (Russian MoD)

Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the testing of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered ground-launched cruise missile during a visit to Russia's Joint Group of Forces at an undisclosed location on 26 October.

Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov reported the test was carried out on 21 October and unlike previous tests involved the missile flying a distance of 14,000 km for 15 hours, which he said was not the limit. He claimed the Burevestnik can evade air and missile defence systems.

Putin spoke of further work following the completion of testing to build infrastructure for the weapon and prepare it for combat duty.

Gen Gerasimov also reported strategic nuclear forces combat training launches of Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, Sineva submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and two Kh-102 air-launched cruise missiles.

In March 2018, Putin announced Burevestnik as one of several new strategic nuclear weapon systems Russia was developing.

For more information, please seeRussia unveils new strategic delivery systems .