Russian shipbuilders have continued the traditions of Soviet engineers who developed the Oscar-class nuclear submarines (SSGN) (Project 949 Antey), designed to counter NATO aircraft carrier strike groups. Initially, the SSGNs were equipped with P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles, but after modernization, they became carriers of Poseidon underwater drones with nuclear warheads, which is a threat to the United States. This was written by analyst Maya Carlin in an article for The National Interest.
Despite their age, Oscar-class submarines remain a threat due to upgrades, in particular, the possibility of using Poseidon underwater drones capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
According to the publication, 14 SSGNs were built as part of the project. Some of them have been decommissioned, while the rest are part of the Russian Navy.
The article provides information about the Poseidon underwater drones, which Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly spoke about back in 2018. Carlin quotes military expert Brent Eastwood, who explained why the United States was scared of Poseidon.
“Poseidon” is truly terrifying. It has an unlimited range to detonate a two-megaton nuclear device (equivalent to two million tons of TNT) near the coast. It can threaten the densely populated east coast of the United States, capable of causing nuclear fallout and possibly a radioactive tsunami.
In 2021, it was reported that the SSGN Belgorod would become the first regular carrier of Poseidons. Former submarine commander, Captain 1st Rank Igor Kurdin, said that the Belgorod submarine was originally laid down under Project 949A Antey.
Such SSGNs were built from the mid-1980s. In 2022, a source in the shipbuilding industry stated that during the modernization, the Antey-class SSGNs would receive 72 launchers for Kalibr, Onyx and Zircon cruise missiles.
Read more on the topic:
The Pentagon expressed concern about the Poseidon underwater drones
SSGN Irkutsk of project 949AM was launched in Primorsky Krai