Because the Burevestnik employs a compact nuclear reactor and a ramjet, it can fly at low altitude to skirt radar detection and circuitous paths to bypass air defenses.
Russia’s 9M730 Burevestnik, known in NATO nomenclature as the SSC-X-9 “Skyfall,” represents one of Russia’s most ambitious and controversial advancements in strategic weaponry.
Unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, this nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile has been billed by the Russians as an “invincible” system capable of evading any missile defense. Designed to count US anti-ballistic missile systems, the Burevestnik draws inspiration from Cold War-era concepts like America’s “Project Pluto,” which explored nuclear-powered ramjet propulsion but was abandoned due to the copious amounts of radiation it left in its wake.
This new Russian Burevestnik missile has unlimited range and the ability to loiter indefinitely. In an era of heightened geopolitical tensions, it embodies Russia’s push to build up asymmetric defenses against the West.
The Burevestnik’s Background
When the George W. Bush administration withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in 2002, Moscow began formulating ways to counter what the Russian leadership believed would be an unfair American advantage over Russia. By 2016, Russian designers had created the Burevestnik in an attempt to level the playing field between East and West.
The missile’s name—Burevestnik—means “storm petrel,” a type of seabird, in Russian. By 2019, trials of its nuclear power unit were reportedly complete, but the program has been plagued by setbacks until recently. At least 13 tests inside Russia have been conducted, with only two deemed partial successes.
Recent satellite imagery from July 2024 reveals construction of a probable deployment site at Vologda-20, a nuclear warhead storage facility 295 miles north of Moscow. This site features nine horizontal launch pads protected by high beams, signaling Russia’s intent to operationalize the system.
What to Know About the Burevestnik Missile
Because the Burevestnik employs a compact nuclear reactor and a ramjet, it can fly at low altitude to skirt radar detection and circuitous paths to bypass air defenses. Armed with a thermonuclear warhead, it can theoretically loiter for hours or even days, striking from unexpected angles. Estimates suggest this missile has a range exceeding 12,400 miles, far surpassing conventional cruise missiles.
Critics have stressed that the Burevestnik has weaknesses. For instance, they argue that its subsonic speed makes the missile susceptible to interception over long flights. These critics also claim that the inertial guidance systems accumulate errors, potentially causing deviations. Perhaps most dangerously, the unshielded nuclear reactor emits detectable heat and radiation, risking environmental contamination—and earning the missile the moniker of “Flying Chernobyl.”
Even though this missile has struggled in the course of its development, Moscow now thinks the system is ready for war. And with the Ukraine War still raging, Putin may yet be preparing to launch this weapon at Ukraine, should the upcoming talks with the United States in Alaska fail.
What makes the Burevestnik such a headache for the West is the unpredictable course it follows on the way to its target. US systems, such as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) or Aegis missile defense system, rely on predictable ballistic missile trajectories to anticipate where the incoming missiles likely will be. By making itself unpredictable, the Burevestnik negates the only real air defense systems the West can currently employ.
Putin claims that the Burevestnik is more powerful than the similar Oreshnik hypersonic weapon. That remains to be seen. But, if it can do what the Russians have claimed it can, and if Moscow finds it necessary to fire these weapons at Ukraine, there is nothing that the Ukrainians have that will stop these systems.
Between this system and the Oreshnik, Kyiv should see the writing on the wall—and do all it can, in concert with President Donald Trump, to get a deal with Vladimir Putin before the Russians go in for the final killing blow.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Oleg Elkov.
