Mikro-Mir 1/72 'Pluto' Super-Sonic Missile # 032

Name: Mikro-Mir 1/72 'Pluto' Super-Sonic Missile # 032
Brand: Mikro-Mir
SKU: MM72-032
Price: 29.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

SKU

MM72-032

In Stock

Type:

1/72 Aircraft

£29.99

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Details

The “Pluto” Supersonic Missile was one of the most extraordinary—and controversial—weapons concepts of the Cold War.

Officially known as Project Pluto, it was developed in the United States during the late 1950s and early 1960s to create a nuclear-powered cruise missile capable of near-unlimited range.

At the heart of the project was a revolutionary nuclear ramjet engine, known as the Tory reactor.

Unlike conventional engines, this system used an unshielded nuclear reactor to superheat incoming air, producing thrust without the need for traditional fuel.

This allowed the missile—often referred to as SLAM (Supersonic Low Altitude Missile)—to fly at supersonic speeds for extremely long distances, potentially circling the globe before striking its targets.

The missile was designed to travel at very low altitude, using terrain-following guidance to evade radar detection.

As it flew, it would not only carry multiple nuclear warheads but also emit intense radiation from its reactor exhaust, effectively turning it into a weapon of mass destruction even before reaching its targets.

Project Pluto successfully tested its reactor systems at a remote facility in Nevada, proving that a nuclear ramjet was technically feasible.

However, the concept raised enormous practical and ethical concerns. The missile would have been uncontrollable once launched, leaving a trail of radioactive contamination across friendly and enemy territory alike.

Ultimately, the project was cancelled in 1964, as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) offered a faster, safer, and more controllable means of nuclear delivery.

Despite never entering service, Project Pluto remains one of the most extreme examples of Cold War innovation—a bold idea that pushed the boundaries of engineering, but also highlighted the dangers of unchecked technological ambition.

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