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| Science & Technology |
| U.S. researchers find probable launch site of Russia's new nuclear-powered missile |
| 2024-09-03 |
| [Rooters] Two U.S. researchers say they have identified the probable deployment site in Russia of the 9M370 Burevestnik, a new nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile touted by President Vladimir Putin as "invincible." Putin has said the weapon - dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO - has an almost unlimited range and can evade U.S. missile defenses. But some Western experts dispute his claims and the Burevestnik's strategic value, saying it will not add capabilities that Moscow does not already have and risks a radiation-spewing mishap. Using images taken on July 26 by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite firm, the two researchers identified a construction project abutting a nuclear warhead storage facility known by two names - Vologda-20 and Chebsara - as the new missile's potential deployment site. The facility is 295 miles (475 km) north of Moscow. Reuters is the first to report this development. Decker Eveleth, an analyst with the CNA research and analysis organization, found the satellite imagery and identified what he assessed are nine horizontal launch pads under construction. They are located in three groups inside high berms to shield them from attack or to prevent an accidental blast in one from detonating missiles in the others, he said. The berms are linked by roads to what Eveleth concluded are likely buildings where the missiles and their components would be serviced, and to the existing complex of five nuclear warhead storage bunkers. The site is "for a large, fixed missile system and the only large, fixed missile system that they're (Russia) currently developing is the Skyfall," said Eveleth. Russia's defense ministry and Washington embassy did not respond to a request to comment on his assessment, Burevestnik's strategic value, its test record and the risks it poses. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #4 ^USA was developing such a missile back in the 50s and 60s. It was a ramjet where the nuclear fission heated the gas on its way out the rear of the missile generating lots and lots of thrust. Interestingly there was a cartoon character then called Roger Ramjet. His superpower came when he ate a 'proton pill'. |
| Posted by: Lord Garth 2024-09-03 14:26 |
| #2 How does nuclear power propel a missile? Project Pluto was a United States government program to develop nuclear-powered ramjet engines for use in cruise missiles. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2024-09-03 14:04 |
| #1 How does nuclear power propel a missile? |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2024-09-03 13:41 |