'Flying Chernobyl': Can Russia's new nuclear-powered missile be a game-changer?

TOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Sep 4, 2024, 20:18 IST

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Russia's experimental Burevestnik missile is back in focus as satellite images reveal construction near a nuclear storage site in Vologda. This development raises alarms despite the missile's touted ability to evade defenses and strike globally. Experts remain doubtful about its reliability and safety due to previous test failures and potential radiation hazards.

'Flying Chernobyl': Can Russia's new nuclear-powered missile be a game-changer?

Russia’s experimental nuclear-powered missile, the Burevestnik (also known as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by Nato), has returned to the global spotlight, sparking debates over its strategic value and the risks it poses.
Driving the news

Recent satellite imagery suggests Russia is constructing launch facilities near a nuclear warhead storage site in Vologda, about 295 miles north of Moscow, where experts believe the missile could be deployed.
This development, first reported by Reuters, has raised concerns about Moscow’s ambitions to operationalize the missile despite a history of failed tests and safety issues.
The Burevestnik was first revealed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, who touted it as part of a new generation of “invincible” weapons that could evade US missile defenses and strike anywhere in the world.
Its unique propulsion system—powered by a miniature nuclear reactor—grants it an almost unlimited range, allowing it to fly low and avoid detection. But its lengthy and troubled testing record, along with the technical and safety challenges it presents, has left many experts skeptical of its actual military value.
Jeffery Lewis, a missile expert at the Middlebury Institute, reviewed the satellite images and concurred. "This imagery suggests something very unique, very different. It aligns with Russia’s development of this nuclear-powered missile," he remarked, highlighting the unusual characteristics of the site and its close proximity to nuclear storage bunkers.

A satellite image shows what is believed to be a deployment site for a Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile.

Why it matters

The Burevestnik represents a bold leap in missile technology, but its potential deployment could intensify an already volatile global security environment.
The missile's ability to bypass current missile defense systems gives it a unique capability that worries Western analysts, though many argue that the practical benefits of such a weapon remain questionable.
If deployed, the Burevestnik could further escalate the nuclear arms race, especially as US-Russia arms control agreements like New START inch toward expiration.
At the same time, the missile’s unproven reliability and significant safety risks—particularly the possibility of radiation leaks from its nuclear reactor—pose a threat not only to potential adversaries but also to Russia itself.
The missile’s subsonic speed, one of its key design flaws, makes it vulnerable to interception, undermining its intended stealth advantages. Furthermore, the risk of catastrophic failure during testing or deployment could result in severe environmental consequences.

Two Russian aircraft used for collecting data from missile launches were parked about 100 miles south of the launch site in early August.The New York Times; satellite image by Planet Labs.

Zoom in

The Burevestnik is designed around a concept that has been explored since the early days of the nuclear age: a nuclear-powered propulsion system that would allow a missile to fly indefinitely. Unlike conventional missiles that rely on limited fuel reserves, the Burevestnik’s miniature nuclear reactor provides the energy needed to keep it in flight for days, potentially even allowing it to circumnavigate the globe.
The missile is launched using solid-fuel boosters, which propel it into the air, where its nuclear reactor activates to sustain its flight. In theory, the missile can fly at low altitudes to evade radar detection while maintaining a range of around 15,000 miles (23,000 kilometers). This would enable it to reach targets anywhere in the world, far surpassing the range of existing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
However, the missile’s subsonic speed—a byproduct of its nuclear propulsion—has raised concerns about its detectability. While it can fly longer than traditional missiles, it moves slower, giving enemy defense systems more time to track and potentially intercept it. This drawback limits the missile’s operational value compared to other Russian missile systems, such as the Sarmat ICBM, which is faster and capable of delivering multiple warheads over similar distances.
Between 2017 and 2019, Russia conducted at least 13 known tests of the Burevestnik, with most ending in failure. Only two tests were reported as partial successes. In one test in 2019, the missile crashed into the White Sea, causing a catastrophic explosion that killed several Russian scientists. This incident highlighted the dangers of the missile’s nuclear-powered engine, leading experts to question whether the risks outweigh the benefits.

The big picture

The potential deployment of the Burevestnik is being closely monitored by the US and Nato, especially after satellite imagery revealed construction activities near the Vologda-20 nuclear warhead storage facility. The site, located roughly 400 miles from Russia’s borders with Finland and Estonia, appears to be designed for large, fixed missile systems, according to analysts. This development suggests that Russia may be preparing to station Burevestnik missiles at the site, making them ready to launch on short notice.
Experts remain divided on whether the Burevestnik would significantly alter Russia’s strategic capabilities. Some argue that the missile’s ability to evade missile defenses and fly long distances gives it a unique advantage, particularly in a second-strike scenario. Others, however, are skeptical.
One of the most significant concerns surrounding the Burevestnik is its nuclear propulsion system. Because the missile is powered by an unshielded nuclear reactor, it could spew radioactive material along its flight path or in the event of a malfunction.
When compared to other missile systems in Russia’s arsenal, the Burevestnik’s advantages appear limited. For instance, the Sarmat ICBM, which also carries nuclear warheads, has a range of over 11,000 miles (17,700 kilometers) and can deliver multiple warheads at hypersonic speeds. This makes it far more difficult to intercept than the slower Burevestnik, which could be tracked and shot down during its prolonged flight.
Moreover, the Burevestnik’s unique propulsion system raises significant safety and reliability concerns. The 2019 explosion during a test recovery operation underscored the dangers of handling a nuclear-powered missile.

What they are saying

“The Skyfall is a uniquely stupid weapon system, a flying Chernobyl that poses more threat to Russia than to other countries,” said Thomas Countryman, a former US State Department official.
Hans Kristensen, from the Federation of American Scientists, told Reutets that the missile will be "as vulnerable as any cruise missile," while analyst Jeffery Lewis emphasizes, "The site’s design suggests they’re preparing for something very unique."
“I don’t understand Putin’s motive here,” Kristensen added, referring to the missile’s uncertain strategic value.
As per Reuters, Decker Eveleth, the analyst who identified the construction site, believes it’s clearly designed for the Burevestnik. "The site is for a large, fixed missile system, and the only large system they're currently developing is Skyfall," he said, pointing to the nine horizontal launch pads shielded by berms to protect against explosions or attacks.

What’s next

As Russia moves closer to deploying the Burevestnik, the missile’s impact on global security remains uncertain. While it could symbolize Russia’s determination to maintain its status as a nuclear superpower, its actual operational value may be limited by its technical flaws and safety issues.
The missile’s troubled test history suggests that it may not live up to the lofty claims made by Putin when he first announced it in 2018.
Nonetheless, the Burevestnik’s development could have broader implications for the global arms race. With the US and Russia’s New START treaty set to expire in 2026, the missile could become a bargaining chip in future arms control negotiations. Pavel Podvig, a Russian nuclear expert, described the missile as a “political weapon” that Putin has used to project strength and signal Russia’s willingness to challenge the West.
As tensions between Russia and the West continue to rise—particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine—the Burevestnik’s deployment could add another layer of complexity to an already dangerous geopolitical landscape.
However, "the Burevestnik is not a wonder weapon, and the challenges it poses for NATO security are neither new nor unmanageable. It may seem scary on paper, but the technical infeasibility of its mission limits its threat. Much of the hype around the missile stems from Russian saber-rattling about its capabilities," Eveleth, an analyst with the CNA research, wrote in a report in Foreign Policy.

(With inputs from agencies)

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