Satellite Images Reveal Possible Launch Site of Russia’s “Invincible” Nuclear-Powered Missile

With the help of satellite data, two American scientists managed to detect the location of Russia’s new nuclear weapon, the 9M730 Burevestnik. The missile, also known as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall, was presented as an “invincible” one.

Planet Labs Satellite Found Secret Russian Nuclear-Powered Missile Launch Site

US researchers say they have identified the deployment site of the 9M370 Burevestnik, an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile that is “invincible”, according to President Vladimir Putin – Reuters reported.

The images were taken by commercial satellite company Planet Labs on 26 July. Two American scientists had discovered a construction project near a nuclear warhead storage facility – Vologda-20 and Chebsara. The facility is located nearly 482 kilometres north of Moscow.

Decker Eveleth, an analyst at the CNA research and analysis organisation, and Jeffery Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey found satellite images and said they identified nine horizontal launch pads under construction.

These launch pads are arranged in three clusters, each situated within high berms connected by roads. The berms likely serve to protect the launch pads from potential attacks or to prevent accidental explosions. 

Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists said that the photos seem to show launch pads possibly related to Burevestnik, but that he can not tell for sure.

A Kremlin spokesman, Russia’s defence ministry, and Washington embassy provided no comments concerning this matter.

What’s Burevesnik?

The 9M730 Burevestnik is a Russian low-flying, nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile under development for the Russian Armed Forces. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the missile’s range is effectively unlimited.

The United States had a similar project in the 1950s and 1960s. Through Project Pluto, the US explored the development of a nuclear-powered missile. However, concerns over the potential danger to its own population led to the project’s cancellation. These concerns were underscored in 2019 when a Burevestnik missile exploded during a test, resulting in casualties among Russian missile scientists.

The Burevestnik’s advanced propulsion system and virtually limitless range could enable Russia to employ the missile in unconventional ways. In 2020, General James Hockenhull, the UK’s Chief of Defense Intelligence, informed reporters that Moscow was testing a nuclear-powered cruise missile system with global reach. This capability would allow for attacks from unexpected directions and enable the missile to linger near a target almost indefinitely, potentially even circumnavigating the Earth before striking.

Is Burevesnik a real threat?

Despite Russia’s claims of the missile’s unlimited range, there are significant challenges. Extended flights or loitering can lead to navigation errors, as inertial navigation systems can drift over time, increasing the risk of the missile missing its target. Remote guidance is limited by the range of Russian communication systems and Earth’s curvature, making long-distance control unreliable. Additionally, while flying at higher altitudes increases fuel efficiency and range, it also makes the missile easier to detect. Conversely, lower altitudes reduce detection but drastically shorten the missile’s range due to increased fuel consumption.