The recent revelation of Russia's nuclear-powered 'Skyfall' missile, or Burevestnik, has sparked a new wave of concern in the international community. This missile, powered by a small nuclear reactor, has the potential to revolutionize military capabilities, but at what cost? In this article, I will delve into the technical aspects of this missile, its historical context, and the potential implications for global security. Personally, I think the development of nuclear-powered missiles is a dangerous and unnecessary pursuit, and I will explore why in this piece.
The Dream of Nuclear Flight
Since the 1950s, both the United States and the Soviet Union have contemplated the idea of nuclear-powered aircraft. The potential for nearly unlimited range and unpredictable attack patterns made these weapons a tantalizing prospect for both sides during the Cold War. The U.S. Air Force even placed a small nuclear reactor inside a Convair B-36 strategic bomber in 1955, though the reactor was never hooked up to the plane's engines. The Soviet Union conducted similar experiments aboard a modified Tupolev TU-95 bomber in 1961.
However, safety concerns ultimately grounded these concepts. The U.S. also worked on a series of nuclear reactors to power missiles, known as Project Pluto, but the tests culminated in 1964 with a ground test of a reactor mounted on a railroad car in Nevada that could run for five minutes, producing 513 megawatts. Despite these experiments, the development of nuclear-powered missiles remained in the realm of theoretical possibility until the recent revelation of Russia's Burevestnik.
A New Kind of Reactor
To understand how the Burevestnik missile is powered, we must first consider the type of reactor it uses. MIT researchers, led by Jake Hecla, have published an analysis that sheds light on the missile's propulsion system. Their modeling suggests that the Burevestnik uses a direct-cycle air-breathing nuclear propulsion system, most likely driving a turbojet. This is a radically different approach from most nuclear reactors, which use an indirect closed loop filled with water or another coolant.
The direct-cycle system in the Burevestnik is problematic because it results in a large quantity of radioactive material in the exhaust. Air itself is irradiated as it passes through the engine, and fission decay products from the nuclear fuel diffuse into the reactor core and are shot out the back. Hecla's calculations show that this system would produce large quantities of radioactive isotopes of argon, krypton, and carbon. He also notes that the reactor could release even more radioactivity if the core starts to corrode during hours of flight.
A Terrible Idea
If Hecla is correct, then the Burevestnik is the first aircraft ever built and flown using nuclear power. This raises serious concerns about the environmental impact and the risk to military personnel who might be required to handle the missile. In 2019, an accident off the Russian coast killed several nuclear personnel, and it is widely believed that the accident was the result of a Russian team attempting to recover a prototype Burevestnik reactor. Given these problems, both real and potential, it is difficult to understand why the Russians developed the Burevestnik in the first place.
The Implications
The development of the Burevestnik has significant implications for global security. While its range is likely significantly longer than that of a conventional cruise missile, it is not a game-changing idea. We are able to routinely shoot down cruise missiles today, and there is no reason to think that the Burevestnik will be particularly more difficult to intercept. Moreover, Russia has said that the Burevestnik will only be used with a nuclear weapon as its warhead, which would likely be heavier than a conventional warhead.
Given all these factors, the weapon appears to be 'kind of useless,' according to Jeffrey Lewis, a scholar at Middlebury College who specializes in studying rockets and missiles. However, the development of the Burevestnik does show that it is technically feasible that the Russians have developed it. In my opinion, this is a dangerous and unnecessary pursuit, and it raises deeper questions about the future of nuclear weapons and the arms race.
Conclusion
The development of the Burevestnik missile has sparked a new wave of concern in the international community. While its technical feasibility is undeniable, its environmental impact and potential risks to military personnel are significant. As we look to the future of global security, it is crucial to consider the implications of such dangerous and unnecessary pursuits. Personally, I think the development of nuclear-powered missiles is a step in the wrong direction, and it is up to the international community to address these concerns and work towards a safer and more peaceful world.
