Is This the World’s First Invincible Weapon?
The world may have entered a new era of strategic weapons with Russia’s development of the 9M730 Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile that President Vladimir Putin has described as an “invincible” weapon capable of flying for days and traveling virtually unlimited distances. Known by NATO as the SSC-X-9 “Skyfall,” the missile represents one of the most ambitious and controversial military projects of the 21st century. Unlike traditional cruise missiles that rely on conventional jet fuel and have a limited range, the Burevestnik uses a miniature nuclear reactor to power its engine, theoretically allowing it to remain airborne for extended periods and strike targets from unpredictable directions.
The concept behind the missile sounds like something out of science fiction. After launch, the missile is reportedly boosted into the air by a conventional rocket engine before its onboard nuclear reactor activates. The reactor then heats incoming air to produce thrust, eliminating the need for large fuel reserves. This means the missile could potentially circle the globe, loiter in the atmosphere for days, and approach its target from virtually any direction, making it extremely difficult for current missile defense systems to detect and intercept. Russian officials claim the missile recently completed a 15-hour flight covering approximately 14,000 kilometers, a feat that would make it one of the longest-flying cruise missiles ever created.
Russia first unveiled the Burevestnik program in 2018 as part of a package of next-generation strategic weapons designed to counter U.S. and NATO missile defense systems. Putin argued that American withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the expansion of missile defense networks forced Moscow to pursue entirely new technologies capable of ensuring Russia’s nuclear deterrent remained credible. In the Kremlin’s view, a missile with unlimited range and unpredictable flight paths would guarantee that no enemy could ever completely shield itself from a Russian retaliatory strike.
Seems Like the West is Skeptical
However, despite the impressive claims, many Western analysts remain skeptical. Experts point out that nuclear-powered flight has been attempted before. During the Cold War, the United States developed a similar concept known as Project Pluto, which envisioned a nuclear-powered ramjet missile capable of flying indefinitely. The program was eventually canceled because of the enormous technical challenges and environmental risks involved. Scientists worried that the missile’s reactor would spread radioactive material across its flight path, effectively becoming a flying nuclear hazard even if it never detonated.
Those same concerns now surround Russia’s Burevestnik. Some researchers have nicknamed the missile “Flying Chernobyl” because of fears that its reactor may emit radioactive particles while in operation. Recent studies have warned that even successful flights could leave a radioactive trail through the atmosphere, potentially creating environmental and public health risks that extend far beyond Russia’s borders. Critics argue that the weapon’s strategic benefits may not outweigh the dangers associated with operating a nuclear reactor inside a low-flying cruise missile.
The program’s history has also been marked by tragedy. In August 2019, an explosion during a missile-related test at Russia’s Nyonoksa military testing range killed five nuclear scientists and caused a brief spike in local radiation levels. Although Moscow never fully disclosed the details of the incident, many analysts believe the accident was directly connected to the development of the Burevestnik. The disaster highlighted the extraordinary engineering difficulties involved in miniaturizing a nuclear reactor and safely integrating it into a missile system.
What are the Weapons’ Strategies?
Strategically, the Burevestnik is intended to function primarily as a second-strike weapon. In the event of a nuclear war, it could theoretically remain airborne while other strategic forces are being used, then attack surviving military infrastructure and command centers after enemy defenses have been weakened. Its ability to fly at low altitudes and approach from unexpected directions could complicate existing defense planning and force NATO and the United States to rethink how they monitor and protect their airspace.
Yet many military experts question whether the missile offers capabilities that Russia’s existing arsenal does not already possess. Intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles already provide devastating retaliatory capabilities, leading some analysts to describe the Burevestnik as an extremely expensive technological demonstration with questionable practical value. Others see it as a psychological weapon as much as a military one—a symbol designed to showcase Russian technological prowess and remind the world that the nuclear arms race is far from over.
Whether the Burevestnik ultimately becomes a game-changing superweapon or an expensive and dangerous experiment remains to be seen. What is clear is that the missile has reignited debates about nuclear deterrence, arms control, and the future of warfare. A cruise missile powered by a nuclear reactor and capable of remaining in the sky for days was once the stuff of Cold War fantasies. Today, it is becoming a reality, raising difficult questions about how far nations are willing to go in pursuit of military advantage and what risks the world may have to accept as a result.
