DID Press: Russia’s Burevestnik missile, one of the most mysterious and advanced weapons projects in the country’s arsenal, has become a nightmare for NATO planners due to its theoretically unlimited range and ability to evade any existing defense system. Experts warn that countering such a weapon is not only technically challenging but could also impose enormous financial strain on NATO’s defense budgets.
Dmitry Stefanovich, a researcher at the IMEMO Institute of World Economy and International Relations and founder of the Vatfor analytical project, told Russian media that the latest test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile demonstrated its capability for complex vertical and horizontal maneuvers—movements that allow it to bypass existing air and missile defense systems. “The ability to evade interception is Burevestnik’s main advantage,” he said.
The missile’s range is theoretically unlimited because it uses a compact nuclear propulsion engine. This means Burevestnik can alter its trajectory mid-flight, approach its target from unexpected directions, and remain undetected by radar systems. According to Stefanovich, this feature makes it fundamentally different from conventional nuclear delivery systems.
Western military analysts acknowledge that countering such a missile would require a complete redesign of NATO’s defensive infrastructure. In theory, air-to-air missiles could be used for interception, but the Burevestnik’s low altitude and minimal radar cross-section make detection and targeting nearly impossible.
Experts have warned that developing a new defense network to counter this class of weapons would demand a dramatic increase in NATO member states’ military spending. “If the West wants to achieve an effective deterrent capability against Burevestnik, it would need to invest billions of dollars in upgrading early-warning and interception systems,” Stefanovich noted.
As NATO continues to grapple with the financial and logistical costs of the war in Ukraine and the replenishment of its arsenals, the emergence of a missile with unlimited range and evasion capability threatens to upend the balance of nuclear deterrence. Burevestnik represents not only a strategic offensive weapon but also a tool of economic and psychological pressure on the West—a weapon that, once operational, could challenge the very notion of “defensible security” within NATO.