As the world’s longest operational submarine, equipped with the unprecedented Poseidon torpedo and deep-sea submersibles, the Belgorod represents a new frontier in undersea warfare.
America is increasingly late to the party when it comes to the new “Revolution in Military Affairs” (RMA), which is based upon swarms of relatively cheap, advanced autonomous warfighting vehicles.
Ironically, America (and Israel) pioneered the use of unmanned aerial vehicles over two decades ago. But the United States has allowed for its first-mover advantage in this key domain to slip away. What’s more, America’s rivals around the world, chiefly China and Russia, have started to take the lead in unmanned warfare technologies.
Western experts have often derided Russia’s economy, noting that in spite of its vastness, its GDP is roughly on par with a mid-sized European country like Italy or Spain. The late Senator John McCain infamously called Russia a “gas station masquerading as a country.” But if this is the case, the Kremlin has managed to do more with less—and has enjoyed several revolutions in their military affairs since the start of the Ukraine War.
Russia’s defense industrial base is operating at levels far beyond what the combined defense industrial bases of the NATO nations can muster. And Moscow has already deployed highly complex systems that, if used against US forces, would be utterly devastating.
The History of the Belgorod Submarine
Take, for example, K-329 Belgorod, an augmented version of Russia’s impressive Oscar-II-class submarine. Belgorod serves dual roles as both a carrier of the Poseidon nuclear-armed autonomous torpedo and a mothership for deep-sea submersibles, positioning this submarine at the forefront of Russia’s undersea warfare and strategic deterrence strategies.
Belgorod’s journey began in the dark days of 1992, the year following the implosion of the Soviet Union. This beast of a sub was laid down at the iconic Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk as a Project 949A cruise missile submarine, part of the Oscar-II-class designed to counter NATO carrier battle groups with the mighty (now old) P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles.
The collapse of the USSR halted construction in 1997, when the submarine was three-quarters complete. The hull was mothballed, and the crew disbanded, leaving the Belgorod’s future uncertain.
The loss of the Belgorod’s sister ship, the Kursk, in a high-profile 2000 accident—possibly involving the failed testing of an experimental torpedo—prompted a brief revival of construction to replace that lost submarine. However, funding shortages persisted, and by 2006, the Russian Ministry of Defence considered abandoning the project altogether.
In December 2012, the hull was relaunched under a radically altered design configuration. Known as Project 09852, Belgorod was transformed into a special operations vessel. The redesign aligned with Moscow’s strategic priorities, including Arctic resource exploitation and undersea warfare capabilities.
The submarine was reimagined to carry the Status-6 (later Poseidon) Oceanic Multipurpose System, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed autonomous torpedo, and to serve as a host for deep-diving midget submarines.
After years of delays, sea trials began in June 2021 in the White Sea, and Belgorod was commissioned on July 8, 2022, as what the Russian Ministry of Defence dubbed as the world’s first “fifth-generation” submarine.
The Belgorod Could Be a Monster Against the US Navy
The Belgorod is a leviathan, surpassing even the Soviet-era Typhoon-class submarines in length, though not in displacement. Its surface displacement is around 14,700 tons, increasing to 24,000 tons when submerged. Powered by two OK-650M.02 pressurized water reactors delivering 190 megawatts, Belgorod can reach speeds of over 32 knots (37 miles per hour) and remain submerged for up to four months, with a diving depth of 520 meters (1,706 feet).
The submarine’s design is tailored for two primary missions: strategic deterrence and seabed warfare. For deterrence, Belgorod is equipped to carry up to six Poseidon torpedoes. These nuclear-powered, autonomous underwater vehicles can travel vast distances and deliver devastating strikes against coastal targets, potentially causing radioactive tsunamis. The system, first revealed by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, underscores Russia’s focus on asymmetric nuclear warfare.
In terms of seabed warfare, Belgorod acts as a mothership for smaller submersibles, including the Losharik (AS-31) and Paltus-class (AS 15, AS-35) nuclear-powered midget submarines. A 2019 fire aboard Losharik, which killed 14 crewmembers, has delayed that system’s integration, prompting Russia to adapt older submersibles like the Paltus-class until the problems with the newer AS-31 can be resolved. These vessels, capable of diving to 19,685 feet, can manipulate undersea infrastructure such as internet cables, pipelines, and sensor arrays, or conduct covert intelligence missions.
The submarine’s reinforced lower rudders allow it to rest on the seafloor, facilitating these operations. Belgorod also carries autonomous underwater vehicles (UUVs) and may deploy elements of the Harmony sonar network to monitor Arctic waters.
The K-329 Belgorod is a technological and strategic marvel for Moscow, embodying Russia’s ambitions to project power beneath the waves and secure its interests in an increasingly contested maritime environment.
As the world’s longest operational submarine, equipped with the unprecedented Poseidon torpedo and deep-sea submersibles, the Belgorod represents a new frontier in undersea warfare. America needs to catch up fast to counteract this threat.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
