MOSCOW — Russia has produced the primary set of Poseidon nuclear-capable tremendous torpedoes which can be being developed for deployment on the Belgorod nuclear submarine, TASS reported on Monday, citing an unidentified protection supply.
Since a grim New Year’s Eve message describing the West as Russia’s true enemy within the struggle on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has despatched a number of alerts that Russia won’t again down. He has dispatched hypersonic missiles to the Atlantic and appointed his high normal to run the struggle.
US and Russian officers have each described Poseidon as a brand new class of retaliatory weapon, able to triggering radioactive ocean swells to render coastal cities uninhabitable.
“The first set of Poseidons have been manufactured, and the Belgorod submarine will receive them in the near future,” TASS, a state news company, quoted the supply as saying.
TASS mentioned the principle parts of Poseidon, together with a nuclear reactor to provide the torpedo its personal energy supply, had been efficiently accomplished. The crew of the Belgorod nuclear submarine has additionally accomplished exams with fashions of the torpedo, TASS mentioned.
The protection ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Putin first introduced what would grow to be often called Poseidon in 2018, saying it was a basically new kind of strategic nuclear weapon, confirming it might have its personal nuclear energy provide.
There are few confirmed particulars concerning the Poseidon within the public area however it’s primarily a cross between a torpedo and a drone which could be launched from a nuclear submarine.
Russia’s protection ministry has proven movies of the 24-meter Poseidon, often called Kanyon by NATO, together with simulations displaying it destroying an enemy plane service and hitting the shoreline.
Putin’s torpedo
The Poseidon has its roots in Soviet plans underneath Josef Stalin for a nuclear torpedo which might be capable of devastate the shores of the United States.
In the 2018 speech, Putin mentioned the vary of the torpedo can be limitless and that it may function at excessive depths at a pace many instances that of any submarine or different torpedoes.
“They are very low noise, have high maneuverability and are practically indestructible for the enemy. There is no weapon that can counter them in the world today,” Putin mentioned.
The Poseidon shall be carried by the Ok-329 Belgorod, a particular goal nuclear submarine that was constructed by the Sevmash Shipyard.
The United States mentioned in its Nuclear Posture Review in 2022 that Russia and China “continue to expand and diversify their nuclear capabilities, to include novel and destabilizing systems.”
“Russia is pursuing several novel nuclear-capable systems designed to hold the US homeland or Allies and partners at risk,” based on the Posture Review.
Last yr, the US Naval Institute mentioned Russia’s growth of Poseidon turned assumptions about submarine-launched nuclear weapons the wrong way up.
“Perhaps most frightening, this nuclear weapon has the potential for autonomous operation,” the institute mentioned.
“A fully operational Kanyon would have an incredible strategic impact,” it mentioned in an article. “As a new delivery platform, it is not covered by current nuclear arms treaties.” — Reuters
