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 the United States.
Moscow claims that Poseidon is "incredibly difficult to detect and intercept," he added.
According to Weichert, the testing of 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 allegedly 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 Poseidon
On November 2, the nuclear submarine Khabarovsk (project 09851) was launched in Severodvinsk. Former chief of the main staff 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
- «Behind Russia for decades»: 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