Burevestnik Missile
07-10-2023
Burevestnik Missile
Why in the news?
Recently President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia has successfully tested the Burevestnik missile.
About Burevestnik Missile:
- The Burevestnik missile is codenamed "Storm Petrel".
- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has codenamed the Burevestnik missile as 'Skyfall'.
- It is a ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile.
- Burevestnik is one of the six strategic weapons that the Russian President mentioned in his 2018 speech.
Features of Burevestnik missile:
- This missile receives energy from the nuclear reactor itself, which heats the air to propel the missile.
- Along with this, it is a cruise class missile which has the capability to carry nuclear weapons.
- Its range is up to 14,000 miles (22000 km).
- It is capable of carrying nuclear warheads or conventional warheads and can potentially stay aloft longer than other missiles and cover much greater distances due to nuclear propulsion.
- The missile is also designed to fly at low altitude, much lower than a conventionally operated cruise missile, which would make it harder for air defense radar to detect.