The Skyfall missile and beyond.

 

 

The War Zone shared new and interesting details about the Russian nuclear-powered Buresvestik (CSS-X-9 “Skyfall”) missile. The missile, also known as “Skyfall,” uses similar technology. To that of the U.S. military used in the early 1960s in “Project Pluto”. That was the attempt to make the nuclear-powered ramjet-driven cruise missile. The project is also known as SLAM (Supersonic Low-Altitude missile). Or, LASV (Low Altitude Supersonic Vehicle). The reason. For why that project disbanded. It was the radioactive track that this missile left behind it. The nuclear-powered system that SLAM used was a so-called. Direct cycle engine. The system used the air. That had direct contact with the reactor core. 

The reactor or its heat caused. An expansion of air. The air that travels through the reactor also cools it. And this system makes it possible to make fast aircraft. That has virtually unlimited operational time. The nuclear-powered ramjet-based systems can also operate outside the atmosphere. When those systems travel at high altitude. The ramjet. It can close the front hatch. And then transform to use internal gas or propellant. The nuclear-powered system can fill that internal propellant storage from the atmosphere. This type of ability can be overwhelming. 

“An air-to-air view of the Convair NB-36H Peacemaker experimental aircraft (s/n 51-5712) and a Boeing B-50 Superfortress chase plane during research and development taking place at the Convair plant at Fort Worth, Texas (USA). The NB-36H was originally a B-36H-20-CF damaged at Carswell Air Force Base. Also. At Fort Worth, by a tornado on 1 September 1952. This plane was called the Nuclear Test Aircraft (NTA) and was redesignated XB-36H, then NB-36H. And it was modified to carry a three megawatt, air-cooled nuclear reactor in its bomb bay. (Wikipedia, Convair NB-36H)

The reactor, named the Aircraft Shield Test Reactor (ASTR), was operational but did not power the plane. The NTA completed 47 test flights and 215 hours of flight time (during 89 of which the reactor was operated) between July 1955 and March 1957 over New Mexico and Texas. This was the only known airborne reactor experiment by the USA with an operational nuclear reactor on board. The NB-36H was scrapped at Fort Worth in September 1958 when the Nuclear Aircraft Program was abandoned.” (Wikipedia, Convair NB-36H)

Project Pluto. It is quite a similar system. To Buresvestnik, or Skyfall.

Tu-160 

But the system must use the arc-jet engine. The system uses an electric arc to expand the propellant. And that makes it possible to separate the propellant from the nuclear reactor and radioactive material. That denies formation of the radioactive track. 

The Skyfall missile uses. The direct cycle engine. There, the compressor presses air into the reactor. The reactor makes the gas expand. And that causes thrust. The problem is that. The Syfall, or Buresvestnik  missile. It  leaves a radioactive track. Behind it. The missile itself has virtually unlimited operational time. But it’s possible that the radioactive trail of that missile limits its operations. There is a possibility. That the Bursvestnik is meant. For returning to base. If it's not used. There is also an interesting possibility. That's the Skyfall missile. It can be fired by using an intercontinental ballistic missile. Then that missile returns to. atmosphere. This system could be revolutionary and deadly. 

Artist's impression of Bartini A-57. 

Another possibility. Is that. The Buresvestnik is also created for a testbed. That used to collect data. For more high-flying projects. It’s possible that Putin and his military commanders want the nuclear-powered version of the Tu-160 “Blackjack” bomber. This type of. Nuclear-powered system. Make it possible to create new types of aircraft. That can carry things. Like directed energy weapons. And unlimited operational range. The ability to operate outside the atmosphere. It gives that vehicle superpower. The idea for that kind of system. Like, nuclear-powered aircraft is not new. The U.S and Soviet Air forces tested nuclear-powered versions of the B-36 and Tu-95. The NB-36 made a couple of lights in the Cold War era. Same as Tu-95. The nuclear-powered propeller aircraft have their limits. 

So. The nuclear-powered ramjet-propelled systems. They can operate in a larger-scale environment. The nuclear-powered aircraft can also theoretically dive into the sea. So they could make the system. It can operate as a submarine, an aircraft, and a space shuttle. At the same time. The nuclear-powered system. It can have a very high power. 

In the Soviet era. Designer Bartini created. An idea about the nuclear-powered flying boat. Bartini A.57. The nuclear engine makes it possible to use the same system. As the sea-based flying boat-shaped space shuttle. That can operate from the water. This system. It could be very large. But it could revolutionize the space and aircraft technology. 

 https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/04/russias-tu-160m-bomber-is-making-the-most-unlikely-of-comebacks/

https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/775/what-we-know-about-russia-rsquo-s-first-long-range-test-of-the-nuclear-powered-burevestnik-cruise-missile

https://www.sandboxx.us/news/project-pluto-the-most-insane-missile-america-ever-built/

https://www.twz.com/nuclear/here-how-russias-skyfall-nuclear-powered-cruise-missile-actually-works

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_A-57

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_NB-36H

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pluto

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160