"Russia Claims To Have Tested A Nuclear Powered " Topic

…Cruise Missile (Burevestnik)

"Russia claims to have successfully tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile – supposedly capable of flying for days on end as it probes weaknesses in Western defence systems.

The Russian state news agency on Friday released a video claiming to show a test of the Burevestnik missile which the Kremlin says is designed to strike over 'unlimited' range and with with unprecedented ability to manoeuvre.

In theory, the Burevestnik could fly forever because it has a nuclear power source, potentially circling the globe until remotely ordered to approach a target and hit it with a nuclear warhead…."
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Amicalement
Armand

This thing would give off so much radiation that would be detected from orbit that you could not hide it. Not very stealthy.

Is this the same one that crashed shortly after takeoff because it wasn't ready, or a new one which may do the same thing?

Crash on launch, or indeed at any time, is a major problem with nuclear powered flight. The technical term used to be 'roll out' – the active reactor breaks free of the crashing airframe then melts down in the open. And once you launch it, you have a very radioactive piece of hardware that you probably don't want back.

I am skeptical, too. The US experimented with nuclear powered aircraft in the '60s, and the problem, indeed, is the weight of the shielding. If you don't care about leaking radiation something like this is possible.

And why is it leaving a contrail? That's not stealthy at all. Pretty much step one in making something stealthy is not leaving a trail of condensation every where you go.

Russia has never been as bad as Iran, but they do have a history of fantastic announcements.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I am skeptical, too. The US experimented with nuclear powered aircraft in the '60s, and the problem, indeed, is the weight of the shielding. If you don't care about leaking radiation something like this is possible.

It's a missile, no shielding required. Anyone it flies over would be dead from the massive supersonic boom, though the 1950s US version ( link , link ) was at the ragged edge of burning up the engine and leaving parts behind that way.

And why is it leaving a contrail? That's not stealthy at all. Pretty much step one in making something stealthy is not leaving a trail of condensation every where you go.

That is almost certainly from the conventional rocket getting the missile up to a speed where the nuclear ramjet can take over.

1. It can be shot down. Just need to be careful where.
2. If it gets hacked it can be retargeted.