The Burevestnik 9M730 is a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile developed by the Russian Federation. Designed to evade modern air and missile defense systems by flying at low altitudes with unpredictable trajectories, the missile is part of a new generation of Russian strategic deterrent weapons. Its defining feature is its miniaturized nuclear propulsion system, enabling extremely long-range capability.
Country users: Russia
Technical Data
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Design
The Burevestnik 9M730 cruise missile consists of two main stages. It is launched from a containerized ground-based platform using a solid-fuel rocket booster. After separation, the missile transitions to cruise flight powered by a nuclear propulsion unit. Its overall length is estimated at approximately 12 meters at launch, with a reduced length of about 9 meters once in flight configuration. The diameter is believed to be close to 1 meter, and the wingspan is estimated at around 6 meters. The airframe includes a mid-fuselage air intake and foldable top-mounted wings. The system is deployed from a road-mobile transporter-erector-launcher vehicle, providing strategic mobility and allowing concealed deployment.
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Warhead
The Burevestnik 9M730 cruise missile is configured to carry a single thermonuclear warhead. Specific yield details have not been disclosed, and there is no indication that the system is designed to carry multiple reentry vehicles or conventional payloads. The warhead is intended for high-value strategic targets and serves as a critical component of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.
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Propulsion
The Burevestnik 9M730 cruise missile uses a dual propulsion system: a solid-fuel booster for initial launch and a nuclear-powered air-breathing engine for sustained cruise. The cruise engine draws in atmospheric air, heats it via a compact onboard nuclear reactor, and expels it to generate thrust. This configuration allows for extremely long-duration flight, with theoretical range limited only by structural integrity and navigation limits rather than fuel. Estimated cruise speed is subsonic. The engineering challenges of this system are significant and include reactor shielding, miniaturization, and safe deployment.
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Guidance Systems
The Burevestnik 9M730 cruise missile is guided primarily by an inertial navigation system, with possible support from terrain contour matching and satellite navigation updates via GLONASS. It is designed for low-altitude, terrain-following flight, reportedly as low as 50 to 100 meters above ground level, to reduce radar visibility. There is no publicly disclosed data regarding accuracy or terminal guidance, and circular error probable (CEP) figures remain unknown.
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Combat Use
The Burevestnik 9M730 cruise missile is intended for strategic nuclear strike roles, providing long-range and survivable delivery capabilities. Its ability to circumvent traditional missile defense systems by flying unpredictable routes at low altitude gives it an advantage in penetrating hardened and defended targets. The missile is seen as a second-strike weapon, augmenting Russia’s strategic deterrence posture. Although a long-range test was reportedly successful in 2025, the missile remains in developmental status with limited test successes and no confirmed deployment.
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