(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — A special department tasked with operating Russia’s nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines equipped with the “Poseidon” nuclear torpedoes will commence operations in the Pacific Fleet early next year.
Sources close to the Russian Ministry of Defense informed news agency TASS that the decision to establish a dedicated department to operate these special-purpose submarines on the Kamchatka Peninsula has already been made.
The specialized department for handling these special-purpose submarines is expected to be operational either later this year or the next and will address strategic threats to Russia in the Pacific region.
“The construction work for coastal infrastructure to accommodate two nuclear-powered submarines on the Kamchatka Peninsula is expected to be fully completed this year,” said a source to TASS previously.
The two nuclear-powered submarines equipped with the “Poseidon” nuclear torpedoes, named Belgorod and Khabarovsk, will serve in the Russian Pacific Fleet, adding another layer of complexity to the challenges faced by the United States Navy and its allies.
Since its announcement by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, Russia is nearing the operational deployment of the “Poseidon,” a nuclear torpedo reportedly capable of autonomously navigating the ocean floor for weeks in search of targets.
The “Poseidon” nuclear torpedo is one of six new nuclear weapon projects for the Russian military. To enable the “Poseidon” to dive for weeks covering over 10,000 km, it is equipped with a small nuclear reactor to generate its power.
This nuclear reactor is what powers and sustains the “Poseidon,” allowing it to remain submerged for weeks or even months.
The “Poseidon” is armed with a two-megaton nuclear warhead, and if launched from the Barents Sea or any Arctic waters, it can cross the Atlantic Ocean to reach coastal targets on the eastern United States.
When the nuclear warhead is detonated on the U.S. coastline, it could trigger a massive tsunami exceeding 500 meters, causing widespread destruction in coastal cities.
Both special-purpose submarines, Belgorod and Khabarovsk, have the capacity to carry 16 super torpedoes “Poseidon,” enough to inflict severe devastation on a targeted nation.
According to Western intelligence sources, the K-329 Belgorod submarine has a length of 178 meters and a width of 15 meters, with a reported weight ranging between 19,000 to 20,000 tons.
Designed for highly classified “special missions,” the submarine’s capabilities remain a mystery to Russia’s adversaries, and it is said to be capable of diving to extreme depths of 2,000 to 2,500 meters.
Meanwhile, the Project 09851 Khabarovsk submarine, designed to carry the nuclear-powered “Poseidon” super torpedo, commenced construction in 2014 and is expected to be commissioned into the Russian Navy this year.
Weighing 10,000 tons, the submarine is designed to carry six Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System long-range torpedoes or “Poseidon.” — DSA