Global Conflict Reporting

Tag: Nuclear

  • Russia test fires a nuclear cruise missile with a nuclear reactor.

    By. Scott Jackson

    10.25.2025

    On October 21st one of Russia’s top generals announced that Russia had carried out a test on the claimed, nuclear powered ‘Burevestnik’ subsonic cruise missile. 

    Burevestnik launcher.

    “We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000km (8,700-mile) distance, which is not the limit,” Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting.

    Code named SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO this low flying cruise missile is suspected to be powered by a miniature nuclear reactor that kicks in after the missile has been launched conventionally from the ground. This reactor gives it an incredible range.

    General Gerasimov said the missile flew for a total of 15 hours on its latest test while its horizontal and vertical capabilities were tested. 

    “Therefore, it demonstrated high capabilities to bypass missile and air defence systems,” Tass reported Gen Gerasimov as saying.

    First mentioned in 2018 this missile has been debated in defense circles and among analysts who can’t agree on its claimed effectiveness. It’s suspected, and claimed by Russia, to be able to strike the United States, while being launched from anywhere in Russia. The missile can carry a conventional warhead but is designed with nuclear warheads in mind. 

    The News agency Reuters did an investigation into the suspected launch site for the weapon last year in September. This investigation concluded that the site for the launch of Skyfall was a nuclear storage facility located about 300 miles North of Moscow known as Vologda-20. 

    Vologda-20

    Decker Eveleth, an analyst with the CNA research and analysis organization found this satellite imagery and identified at least 9 horizontal launch pads under construction. The launch platforms are in three groups located inside a high berm to shield them from direct attacks. The high berm surrounding the groups also protects in case of accidental explosion from destroying or detonating the other missiles and  launchers. The site shows what Decker believes to be lightning rods to protect the large metal equipment from Mother Nature. 

    Closer look at the launchpads.

    The berms are further linked to roads which run to buildings where the missiles are likely being stored and serviced. 

    Decker concludes the site is built “for a large, fixed missile system and the only large, fixed missile system that they’re (Russia) currently developing is the Skyfall,”

    Because Skyfall’s launch site is connected to a nuclear weapons storage site, it will allow Russia to quickly pull from storage to load and fire the weapon. 

    GCR analysis.

    This missile has some interesting features if everything Russia says about it is true. A missile’s range is usually determined by how much fuel they can carry. Since this allegedly runs on a small nuclear reactor (after launch) this missile could loiter for extended periods of time. We are talking about maybe days of flight time here. This weapon also had a much lower suspected cruise altitude of a reported 164 to 328 feet, compared to conventional powered cruise missiles. 

    Some western sources believe that Skyfall’s subsonic speeds will make it detectable by current detection methods. A response to this by Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov says the weapon is designed to be used to knock out the “remnants” of the enemy’s command and control systems, military bases, factories and power plants after Russian ICBMs have already been launched, operating in areas where air defense is already weakened or destroyed.  

    So while detecting it might be possible, it’s not likely this weapon is going to be used for anything other than what I suspect would be the very last war the earth ever has. Even if it’s used in a conventional manner this weapon still contains nuclear material, and will leave behind radiation upon detonation.

  • U.S. Middle East assets placed on high alert. Embassy staff in region preparing to pull out.

    By Scott Jackson

    06/12/2025

    A lot is happening in the Middle East today as the state department have put U.S. diplomats and embassies on alert that they could be evacuated at any moment as the U.S./Iran nuclear talks seem to be stalling after months of meetings.

    If these talks fail it’s likely that Israel with or without US backing will launch military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities causing Iran to launch retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, utilizing conventional ballistic missiles, as well as drones. The deadline set by the U.S. for these nuclear talks roughly two months ago was two months. Time seems to be almost up for the question of what’s going to happen with Iran.

    We’ve had some indication earlier this week as a load of anti drone missile that were earmarked for a shipment to Ukraine were sent to the Middle East. Some said this was the Trump administration pulling away from Ukriane however it seems more likely that the DoD views these assets as being mission critical right now.

    So far only non essential staff have been evacuated however that is subject to change as things progress. When asked about this earlier today why military and government families and non critical staff were being evacuated he said that they would “ have to see, thank you”

    Multiple unnamed U.S. officials who spoke to members of the media are saying that they doubt this weekends round of US and Iran talks will even happen. you can find that quote in WP.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/11/state-department-embassy-baghdad/e8d1a6a6-46ec-11f0-9210-87ee82efcc80_story.html

    The airspace around Iran has been subject to a heavy amount of t of GOs jamming. A thing that can be measured by looking at historical flight data of airplanes that flew close to the areas. This phenomenon is noticed a lot near Israel’s borders who were almost constantly jamming GPS signals during the war in Gaza. This is something we also see originating from Russia’s Kaliningrad however at a greater degree there.

    You can see this planes course was incorrectly recorded near Baghdad. This is a tell tale sign of GPS jamming.

    Speaking of air assets. I’m sure it will suprise almost nobody when I say that Iran has seen an uptick in aerial monitoring from the U.S. as of late. Reconnaissance and signals gathering platforms making daily trips around the countries borders.

    Image shows a the flight tracks of a number of US recon and signals gathering platforms thag have done recent mission around or near Iran. Most of the planes stayed near the Iran Iraq border however it looks like some flew into Irans airspace.

    The next bit we have is an advisory put out by the UKMTO or the UK Maritime Trade Organization.

    This UKMTO goes out to mariners operating in the region and warns them away from the Strait of Hormuz due to “increased security tensions in the area that could affect mariners”.

    While the U.S. presence in the Middle East isnt what it once was it still has the capability to retaliate if Iran starts launching ballistic missiles. On the 9th satellite flyovers at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean show that the base still holds at least 4 B-52s as well as at least 6 F-15s (along with some transport and refueling aircraft). Beyond that the USS Carl Vinson (CVN- 70) along with its CSG and carrier air wing 2.

    I haven’t even mentioned everything. The U.S. still has some several thousand soldiers in the region along with multiple air squadrons spread across Iraq and Saudi Arabia and the rest of the gulf partner states. 

    Hey guys I just wanted to go a little less formal to say that I don’t know whats going to happen, but whatever it is feels like it’s coming soon. Some signs are there that we are coming to a point where decisions are going to be made regarding all of this we talked about above. My point is tensions for these players are high and when tensions are high things seem to happen. Anyway for now we wait and see. 
    -Scott

  • Test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM (Video Included)

    By. Scott Jackson

    05/24/2025

    On May, 21st at 12:01 AM pacific time the United States Air Force carried out unarmed test launch of the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. the launch was carried out by the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command.

    Video of the launch.

    The missile was launched from a silo and was carrying a single Mk21 high-fidelity reentry vehicle.

    Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test

    For the Minuteman III test launch a randomly selected missile was selected from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana and brought to the Western Test Range at Vandenberg.

    The test range is located on the very coast of the base giving the military a great line of sight for their radars and other sensors to collect telemetry and other data.

    Still image showing the missile silo opening at Vandenberg.
    Image shows the location I believe to be the launch site an Vandenberg.

    “This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation’s nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command. “This powerful safeguard is maintained by dedicated Airmen – missileers, defenders, helicopter operators and the teams who support them – who ensure the security of the nation and its allies.”

    The test was conducted and overseen by Vanderberg’s 377th Test and Evaluation group. Established in 2021, The 377th are the nations only squadron dedicated to testing the nations ICBM stocks.

    Minuteman III remains the bedrock of our nations strategic deterrent and the unwavering dedication of the airmen who ensure its readiness are a testament to its inherent lethality. Their expertise and commitment are vital to maintaining the credible force for peace.” Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th Test and Evaluation group.

    According to the measurements taken by the, U.S. Army Space and Missile defense command’s Ronald Reagan ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, the ICBM’s reentry vehicle flew 4,200 miles and impacted a predetermined target spot near the USASMDC’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Command, (AKA RTS) on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

    These test launches serve several purposes such as putting the readiness of the U.S. ICBM’s on display as well as testing the reliability and accuracy of the systems and providing important data.

    The RTS uses wide an array of systems to collect every bit of data including its advanced, high speed optical and long range tracking and imaging radar systems. RTS also analyzes the data collected.

    This all falls under the ‘Glory Trip’ missions.

    The Minuteman III is currently being phases out and replaced by the LGM-35A Sentinel. The Sentinel is set to replace all 450 Minuteman III missiles and have a service until the 2070’s.

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