Russia is preparing an essay on its new nuclear propulsion missile, according to American researchers
Russia seems to prepare a sound test 9M730 Bourevestnik (NATO code name: SSC-X-9 Skyfall), thermal nuclear and nuclear armament experimental cruise missile, according to the agency Reuters which cites two American researchers and a Western security source.
Jeffrey Lewis, of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies based in California, and Decker Eveleth, of the CNA research and analysis organization based in Virginia, have arrived separately to this conclusion after studying images taken in recent weeks by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite company.
They show an intense activity on the Pankovo site, in New Zemas: arrival of containers, equipment, staff, ships and specialized planes already seen during previous tests. An opinion to sailors and air notifications [Notam] indicate a shooting window from August 9 to 22. A Western security source, wishing to remain anonymous, confirmed that Russia is preparing for a Bourevestnik test. The White House, the Pentagon, the CIA and the Russian Defense Ministry refused to express themselves.
The trial would have been planned before the announcement of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, and Moscow could have suspended the preparations to send a political signal in order to relaunch peace and armament control negotiations, while the treaty New START expires in February 2026.
