New Russian subsonic intercontinental cruise missile endanger vital U.S. national interests in pan-European and Asian region.
The Burevestnik (Stormbringer in English) or “Unstoppable” as it was named in Western media, is an intercontinental cruise missile designed to attack a variety of important enemy targets, such as command posts, missile defence bases, and radars. It is a new type of strategic weapons that do not use ballistic flight paths on the way to the target.
The main purpose of the new cruise missiles is the suppression of the operational bases of the probable enemy and the destruction of interceptor-based missile defenсe systems or group of ships with Aegis Ballistic Missile Defenсe System.
The missile has an intercontinental range in excess of 10,000+ kilometers (probably close to 20,000 kilometers) and may be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
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The missile existence was confirmed by President Putin on March 1, 2018. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during his annual State of the Nation address on March 1 that the Russian defense industry has begun developing an intercontinental-range nuclear-powered cruise missile capable of penetrating any interceptor-based missile defense system.
“We’ve started the development of new types of strategic weapons that do not use ballistic flight paths on the way to the target. This means that the missile defense systems are useless as a counter-means and just senseless,” Putin said in his speech.
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The key element of the cruise missile is a nuclear power unit which allegedly provides an intercontinental range. The missile is expected to follow any trajectory to reach its intended target. The first test firing of the Burevestnik cruise missile occurred in late 2017.
Nuclear propulsion is used on large ships like aircraft carriers and submarines. It allows these vessels to operate for years without refueling, dramatically extending their range and endurance.
The new Burevestnik missile will be the first step to deliver a global blow, that endangers national interests and national security the United States.