Beijing: Russia has completed the decisive tests of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday. “Much work remains to be done to put these weapons on combat duty … Nevertheless, the key objectives have now been achieved,” Putin said during a meeting with military commanders.

According to Namibia Press Agency, during his briefing with Putin, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov stated that the Burevestnik missile successfully completed a 14,000-km test flight lasting approximately 15 hours on Tuesday. Gerasimov noted that the missile’s range could potentially be extended.

The test highlighted the missile’s “high capabilities for evading anti-missile and air defense systems,” Gerasimov reported. The 9M730 Burevestnik, also known as SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO, is a Russian low-flying, nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile. It is reported to have unlimited range and the ability to evade missile defenses.