How dangerous is the 9M730 Burevestnik missile?

"Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile. (Source: Kyiv Post) (United24media)

The nuclear reactor makes “9M730 Buresvetsnik” a hard target for the defender. If there is damage in the reactor. It can deliver radioactive material around the dorp zone. The nuclear warhead will probably not detonate. But there is a possibility that Russians deliver cobalt into that reactor. That means the system can poison the entire Western hemisphere. If it delivers radioactive cobalt through the reactor. The nuclear reactor’s neutron bombardment transforms the cobalt-59 into cobalt-60. As it makes it into the cobalt bombs. Nobody confesses to keeping cobalt bombs in their hands. That bomb can act as a doomsday weapon; the mission is to act as a “final weapon”. The symbol of madness that could destroy the entire human race. 

Theoretically, the Russian “9M730 Burevestnik” (NATO: SSC-X-9 “Skyfall”) is not a more difficult target for defense than any other subsonic cruise missile. The only problem is to find that missile, and then the fighter can shoot it down. There is one thing. that turns the “9M730 Burevestnik”. Or “Skyfall” missile. Into a very complicated system. And that problem is that the missile itself is nuclear-powered. That means. If the fighter shoots the nuclear-powered missile down. The damaged reactor can deliver radioactive material into a quite large area. Nuclear power gives it a virtually unlimited range. 

And that means that “Skyfall” can poison a large area if its reactor faces damage when the missile or cannon rounds hit that missile. This is one thing that makes nuclear power suitable for military systems. The 9M730 Burevestnik itself carries a nuclear warhead. If that warhead detonates over the target, this causes a situation where the reactor will be vaporized and deliver radioactive fallout in large areas. There is also a possibility that this missile has cobalt in its warhead. Or it can deliver cobalt through the reactor. That causes radioactive fallout in the line. that follows this missile. 

It’s possible that there will be more variants of the “Skyfall” missile. 

The “Skyfall” missile can fly for months in the atmosphere. Theoretically, that flight time is unlimited.  And that raises new questions about the future of those systems. The same technology that the Russians developed for the Skyfall missile can be used in larger systems. Those systems can patrol in the air and carry others. Maybe hypersonic missiles. That thing can be the super-powerful version of the Chinese drone carrier. In those cases, the nuclear-powered system can carry things. 

Like one or two “Brahmos” or “Kinzhal” hypersonic missiles under their body or wings. Those systems can launch the hypersonic missiles to their targets from any altitude. There is a possibility that the 9M730 Burevestnik is only a testbed, whose purpose is to test how that technology works, and perhaps those experiences can be applied to more advanced and frightening systems. There is also a possibility that the 9M730 Burevestnik can be launched into the air, allowing it to patrol like a super drone. If that system must not attack. It will be called to the base. The advanced model can have the ability. To accelerate and slow its speed between hyper- and supersonic areas. 

https://defensemirror.com/news/35154

https://www.euronews.com/2025/11/16/nato-alarmed-as-putins-new-petrel-missile-apparently-ready-for-use

https://united24media.com/latest-news/russia-tested-nuclear-powered-burevestnik-skyfall-missile-from-arctic-site-norway-official-confirms-12858

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9M730_Burevestnik

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_bomb