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.

  • lennybird@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Putin could’ve actually improved his country or invested these resources into things like medical or scientific advancements but no, that would be too hard for a pencil-pusher shoved out of sight in an office in the kgb.

    • Zron@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      The US had designs for similar weapons in the 50s.

      And then we realized that if we could just level every city on the planet anyway, it doesn’t fucking matter if you have an infinite range, radiation spewing death machine.

  • deegeese
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    3 months ago

    But it’s subsonic? A big expensive slow missile which destroys your own reputation?

    Subsonic cruise missiles are fresh meat for AA defenses.

    The long-abandoned US version was supersonic.

    Sounds like Russia wasting money for PR purposes.

  • TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    Bet the chain of command stuffed all the funds to get it ready into their pockets, and it will pop up and detonate immediately if it even gets off the ground lol.

    These idiots are using WWI troop tactics and WWI and II tech on the battlefield.

    I’d lay good money on it blowing up and radiating Moscow.