Nuclear-powered missiles: An aerospace engineer explains how they work – and what Russia’s claimed test means for global strategic stability

Image caption: Russia’s earlier tests of the Burevestnik missile include this 2018 launch. Image credit: Screencapture of Russian Defense Ministry video obtained via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 4.0 (white space added). Article by Iain Boyd. The Conversation – October 29, 2025.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in a military uniform, announced on Oct. 26, 2025, that Russia had successfully tested a nuclear-powered missile. If true, such a weapon could provide Russia with a unique military capability that also has broader political implications. The missile, called Burevestnik, was reportedly successfully tested over the Arctic Ocean after years of development and several earlier initial test flights, one of which resulted in the deaths of five nuclear scientists. […]

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