In a report on September 1, 2024, reports emerged from Russia confirming the test firing of a nuclear-powered cruise missile known as the 9M730 Burevestnik. Long in development, it has tantalized the world with its capabilities and might bring a sea change in modern warfare.
Known to the West as the “Skyfall,” the Burevestnik is, of course, what Russia claims is a special weapon that can fly indefinitely with its nuclear propulsion system. That in turn is supposed to permit it to bypass missile defense systems by flying some kind of unpredictable route. Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that the missile could target every corner of the world, making it a formidable addition to the arsenal.
The test conducted on September 1 is among the first successful missile flights. Previous ones were hampered by various challenges of a technical nature, which cast doubt on the viability of the project. This recent success has proved that Russia is getting closer than ever before to applying this advanced technology.
Development has not been without its controversy. Many experts have raised serious environmental and safety concerns with regard to a nuclear-powered missile. In the case of its crash or malfunction, it could spread radioactive material over great distances. It still appears certain, nevertheless, to press headlong ahead, continuing to view this missile as indispensable in its arsenal to maintain its strategic edge.
The timing of this test is also very important. In the light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a period of tension arises between Russia and the West. Some comments even go as far as to say that this test is one of many flexing of muscles by Russia, showcasing messages to NATO and other powers of the West. The fact that Burevestnik flew successfully was heralded as a demonstration of the will of the country to keep technology might and pursue any arms unconventional to maintain security.
But the Burevestnik is part of a larger trend in Russian military strategy: the development of weapons that can evade, or overwhelm, Western missile defenses. Russia has tested at least a half-dozen other new strategic weapons alongside the Burevestnik, including hypersonic missiles and underwater drones. These are designed to challenge the United States and its allies, which have spent heavily on missile defense technologies.
News of it has brought a mixture of skepticism and concern from Western officials. Some have openly doubted whether the Burevestnik could be both reliable and practical, since nuclear-powered missiles are extraordinarily complicated and hard to maintain. Others warn that even a few successful tests could signal a dangerous shift in the balance of global power. If Russia can deploy such missiles, perhaps it will be in a position to blackmail the United States and its allies into a review of their defense doctrine.
There has also been alarm from environmental groups regarding the nuclear-powered missiles. Of course, it is going to contain the risk of radioactive contamination because of any accident during tests or deployment. While Russia has tried to assure the international community that its testing methods are not hazardous, such assurance has done little to allay fears. For many, the 1986 Chernobyl disaster remains alive in memory, as does a wariness of risks from any new nuclear technology.
The Kremlin has remained tight-lipped about the test details, further than that the test was successful. That would indeed be a totally characteristic approach for the new military development of Russia, where secrecy of information is a conserved value, and speculation usually faces official silence. Preliminary clues emerged Saturday from satellite imagery and other intelligence sources, who said the object was launched from a remote site in the Arctic-a familiar testing ground for sensitive military technologies.
News of the test showed caution in markets. The Russian defense stocks rose moderately, while its currency, the ruble, was stable, but some Western markets suffered slight dips as investor anxiety grew over the potential for growing geopolitical tensions.
Reactions from abroad have been swift to the test. NATO is calling on an emergency meeting over implications of Russia’s new missile capabilities. The US has also indicated that it is closely watching developments and may consider additional sanctions if it determines the missile to be a significant threat. At the same time, some experts think sanctions will not make any difference, as Russia has repeatedly proved to be ready to bear the brunt of economic hardship for the sake of its strategic objectives.
In the days to come, the world will probably want to know more about the Burevestnik and where Russia is headed. For now, the successful test of this nuclear-powered cruise missile raises important questions for the future of global security: Could this new technology signify a new arms race, or does it portend new efforts at arms control? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Russia’s latest military achievement has the world on edge.
