Russia has developed an autonomous underwater vehicle with a virtually unlimited range. The product is capable of destroying any port in the world. This opinion was expressed by military expert Brandon J. Weichert in the article "The Poseidon Nuclear Drone Is Much Scarier Than You Think" for The National Interest.
Russia wants the world to know about a new method of destroying a potential enemy using the Poseidon underwater vehicle with a nuclear power plant. This is a powerful autonomous torpedo that was developed as a weapon of retaliation. It is designed to defeat key coastal infrastructure facilities, presumably in the United States.
Moscow claims that "Poseidon" "is incredibly difficult to detect and intercept," he added.
According to Weichert, testing the underwater vehicle may be the Kremlin's reaction "to the deterioration of relations with the West."
What is known about "Poseidon"
The development belongs to the designers of the Central Design Bureau MT "Rubin". The device is equipped with a compact nuclear power plant. Its speed is unknown, but it is believed that "Poseidon" can reach up to 100 knots per hour.
Weichert added that the nuclear warhead supposedly contains cobalt. However, this information has not been confirmed.
The device is designed to create radioactive tsunamis along the coast of the enemy country, which makes this weapon truly nightmarish.
The expert did not rule out that the Russians may be exaggerating the capabilities of "Poseidon". However, the very development of the device confirms only one thing — "the world has entered dark times", he concluded.
APL "Khabarovsk" — carrier of "Poseidon"
On November 2, the nuclear submarine "Khabarovsk" (project 09851) was launched in Severodvinsk. Former chief of the main headquarters of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, said that the submarine was designed and built for the Poseidon nuclear underwater complex. Military correspondent Evgeny Lisitsyn clarified that the underwater cruiser can carry up to 12 nuclear torpedoes.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Reactors of "Burevestnik" and "Poseidon" can be used for peaceful purposes
- "Decades behind Russia": analyst explained the panic in the West due to Russia's testing of "Burevestnik" and "Poseidon"
- Experts: the carrier of "Poseidons", the nuclear submarine "Khabarovsk", received a water-jet propulsion unit to reduce noise