Russia's Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile (NATO code name SSC-X-9 Skyfall) is a science fiction weapon. Geoffrey Lewis, a non-proliferation expert from Middlebury University in the US, named the missile's characteristics. guide New York Times (NYT).
“This is another sci-fi weapon that will cause instability and make it difficult to fight within weapons control,” the expert said.
According to him, the appearance of such a missile in Russia is a “bad turn of events”.
It is believed that nuclear-powered missiles are capable of maneuvering for long periods of time and attacking targets from unexpected directions. The decision to begin work on the Burevestnik was made in 2001, after the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
In early October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Burevestnik tests had been successfully completed. In the same month, military expert Yury Selivanov admitted that the new missiles can attack from all directions and that existing missile defense systems cannot cover the entire area of the country.
