American analysts Decker Eveleth and his colleague Jeffrey Lewis stated that they have identified the probable deployment site in Russia of a new cruise missile with a nuclear power plant and a nuclear warhead, the 9M730 Burevestnik (NATO classification SSC-X-9 Skyfall), which Russian President Vladimir Putin called "invincible," Reuters reports.
Experts analyzed satellite images taken on July 26 by Planet Labs. They claim that the potential deployment site of the new missile is located 475 km north of Moscow.
According to Eveleth, nine horizontal launch pads are currently under construction. They are connected by roads to buildings where, according to the analyst, the missiles and their components will be serviced, as well as to an existing complex of five bunkers for storing nuclear warheads. Jeffrey Lewis agreed with his conclusions.
This site is intended for a large stationary missile system, and the only large stationary missile system they (Russia) are currently developing is Skyfall.
There are no official comments from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Embassy in Washington, or the Kremlin available to Reuters. In addition, the US State Department, CIA, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the US Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center also declined to comment.
In 2020, the US Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center prepared a report mentioning the Burevestnik. Experts pointed out that if the new missile is adopted, Moscow will receive "a unique weapon with intercontinental range."
According to Reuters, citing data from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), the Burevestnik has a bad reputation. Since 2016, there have been at least 13 tests, of which only two were partially successful. Some experts note that the missile does not meet safety requirements.
Skyfall is a uniquely stupid weapon system, a flying Chernobyl that poses a greater threat to Russia than to other countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the Burevestnik in March 2018. He stated that the missile would "fly at low altitudes", have a virtually unlimited range, an unpredictable flight path, and would be "invulnerable" to current and future defense systems.
Read more on the topic:
Relentless Burevestnik: what is known about Russia's unlimited-range cruise missile
The Bulava sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile has been adopted by the Russian Armed Forces
