Nuclear-powered missiles: An aerospace engineer explains how they work – and what Russia’s claimed test means for global strategic stability
- Written by Iain Boyd, Director of the Center for National Security Initiatives and Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
 Russia's earlier tests of the Burevestnik missile include this 2018 launch.Screencapture of Russian Defense Ministry video, CC BY
Russia's earlier tests of the Burevestnik missile include this 2018 launch.Screencapture of Russian Defense Ministry video, CC BYRussian 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...










