Russia has launched Khabarovsk, a new nuclear submarine built to carry Poseidon underwater nuclear drone system, and what is commonly referred to as the world’s “doomsday missile.” The submarine was launched at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Navy Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, and top defense officials were all present. This is an important milestone for Russia’s underwater strategic deterrent program.
Khabarovsk has been developed by the Rubin Design Bureau to carry advanced autonomous underwater systems such as Poseidon, which is an unmanned nuclear-powered drone capable of crossing entire oceans at extreme depths and very quickly. Russian Defense Ministry officials claimed the submarine will enhance Russia’s maritime security and facilitate long-range strategic missions.
The introduction of the new news comes on the heels of President Vladimir Putin’s recent announcement of a successful Poseidon test, in which he touted the drone’s miniaturized nuclear reactor reportedly 100 times smaller than those in more typical reactor systems. Russian security officials, including Dmitry Medvedev, have characterized Poseidon as a new type of deterrent weapon, and Andrei Kartapolov, chief of the Duma, Defence Committee, stated that Poseidon could “wipe out entire coastal nations”.
Also, previously the place that modernized India’s INS Vikramaditya, the Sevmash facility has been central to building the submarine. By unveiling the Khabarovsk-Poseidon combination, Russia is pushing to advance its lead in underwater nuclear strike capability, clearing the way for a new approach to maritime warfare and international security challenges.
While unclear on timelines of when the submarine will be deployed, defence sources think it could be operational by later this decade, or maybe sooner, as Russia adds another powerful and controversial element of its strategic arsenal.
