How the "Petrel" was tested — flew 14 thousand km and this is not the limit

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov the testing of an unlimited-range cruise missile "Burevestnik" with a nuclear power plant.

Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander, such a test was conducted on October 21. Indeed, its difference from previous tests is that the rocket flew for many hours, during which it covered a distance of 14 thousand kilometers, and this is not the limit.

Putin: At a nuclear installation?

Gerasimov: On a nuclear power plant, yes.

The technical characteristics of the Petrel generally allow it to be used with guaranteed accuracy on highly protected objects at any distance.

In addition, during the flight of the missile, all the specified vertical and horizontal maneuvers were performed, and thus its high capabilities for bypassing anti-missile and air defense systems were demonstrated.

Putin: And [how long] was in the air?

Gerasimov: About 15 hours.

Putin: And this is not the limit?

Gerasimov: Not the limit.

Putin: We will need to decide, Valery Vasilyevich, what it is, what class of weapons this new system belongs to. It is necessary to identify possible ways of using and begin to prepare the infrastructure for the deployment of these weapons in our Armed Forces.

Burevestnik is a strategic cruise missile of unlimited range with a nuclear power plant. It is designed to destroy objects of strategic importance, including fortified bunkers. The rocket is invisible to enemy radars, can only be detected by specialized spacecraft at the time of launch and at the acceleration site.