Russia’s mysterious Burevestnik cruise missile, known to NATO as SSC-X-9 Skyfall, has returned to the spotlight after new research suggested the weapon may leave a trail of radioactive material in its wake as it flies.

The missile has been one of the most controversial weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin since he first revealed it in 2018. Unlike conventional cruise missiles, which are limited by the amount of fuel they can carry, Skyfall is designed around a miniature nuclear reactor that could theoretically allow it to fly for thousands of miles and approach targets from unexpected directions.

Recent analysis from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has renewed debate about the weapon’s design, environmental impact, and strategic value.

A Cold War idea brought back to life

According to a recent analysis by MIT researchers, the most likely explanation for Skyfall’s extraordinary range is that it uses a direct-cycle nuclear propulsion system, a concept remarkably similar to America’s abandoned Cold War-era Project Pluto program. 

In a conventional jet engine, fuel is burned to heat incoming air. The hot expanding gases then exit through the rear of the engine to generate thrust.

Skyfall appears to replace that combustion chamber with a compact nuclear reactor. Instead of burning fuel, incoming air is passed through or around the reactor, rapidly heated to extremely high temperatures, and expelled through the exhaust nozzle. The process produces thrust while consuming only a tiny amount of nuclear fuel.

The result is a missile that is not constrained by traditional fuel tanks and could potentially remain airborne for extremely long periods.

Why experts believe it may release radiation

The same design that enables Skyfall’s enormous range is also what worries scientists. According to the recent MIT analysis, the missile almost certainly relies on an “open-cycle” or direct-cycle propulsion architecture. In such a system, outside air comes into direct contact with components exposed to the reactor’s intense radiation environment before being expelled as exhaust. Researchers argue this would likely release radioactive particles and isotopes into the atmosphere throughout the flight. 

This is one reason why the United States ultimately abandoned Project Pluto during the Cold War despite successfully testing nuclear-powered ramjet technology.

Critics have long argued that a nuclear-powered cruise missile effectively turns every flight into a potential radiological event, even if the weapon never carries out a nuclear strike. That concern has led some arms-control experts to describe the concept as a “flying Chernobyl,” although supporters argue the strategic advantages outweigh the risks.

Why Russia wants such a weapon

The primary attraction of Skyfall is its range. Traditional cruise missiles may travel hundreds or, in some cases, a few thousand miles. A nuclear-powered missile could theoretically fly much farther, take circuitous routes around radar networks, and approach targets from unexpected directions.

Russia has repeatedly claimed that the missile has an effectively unlimited range and can bypass existing missile defense systems. In October 2025, Russian officials said Skyfall completed a flight of approximately 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) over roughly 15 hours, although independent verification remains limited.

The missile was originally unveiled alongside other strategic systems, including the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo and several hypersonic weapons, all intended to ensure Russia could penetrate future missile-defense networks.

A weapon still surrounded by questions

Despite years of development, many details about Skyfall remain unclear. Independent analysts continue to debate exactly how the propulsion system operates, how reliable the missile is, and whether it can achieve the performance claimed by Russian officials. The program has also reportedly suffered multiple testing setbacks, including a 2019 accident linked to nuclear technology that killed several Russian specialists.

What appears increasingly likely, however, is that Skyfall represents the world’s most serious attempt to field a nuclear-powered cruise missile. A concept that engineers first explored more than half a century ago and that many believed had been abandoned for good.

If the recent MIT analysis proves correct, the missile’s greatest innovation may also be its greatest controversy. A propulsion system capable of delivering unprecedented range, but potentially at the cost of spreading radioactive material across the skies it travels through.

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