“Flying Chernobyl” Missile + Other Headlines

Russia Tests Terrifying “Flying Chernobyl” Missile

Over the weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of its new Burevestnik missile, which NATO has codenamed “Skyfall.” It is a nuclear-powered cruise missile with a theoretical infinite range.

According to Moscow, the test lasted 15 hours and the missile flew for around 8,700 miles.

Critics are calling the missile a true doomsday weapon, with one expert identifying it as a “Flying Chernobyl” because it is powered by an onboard nuclear reactor, which could cause a catastrophic disaster if the missile somehow crashes:

The weapon is billed as an intercontinental cruise missile, which is powered by an onboard nuclear engine.

That nuclear-powered on-board motor is what would give the weapon this infinite range. Running off an on-board reactor would remove the limitation that every other missile in the world suffers from: they can only fly as far as the on-board fuel will last.

The U.S. deployed a radiation-detecting aircraft near Russia’s test site in the Arctic before the launch. Satellite imagery in recent months showed hints that a test launch was imminent.

Putin made the announcement after plans for a summit with President Trump collapsed, and after the administration allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons to target oil refineries in Russia.