Russia has developed an AI-driven, nuclear-armed torpedo—one with essentially unlimited range, capable of annihilating any port in the world.
Russia wants the world to know it has a brand-new method for annihilating its enemies with their Poseidon nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). Designed as a second-strike weapon, this massive autonomous torpedo is designed to threaten key coastal infrastructure of a hypothetical enemy—presumably the United States.
Moscow claims that it could be used to create massive radioactive damage to key ports and cities. What’s more, because it is a UUV that has seemingly unlimited endurance, the weapon is incredibly difficult to detect and intercept.
Understanding Russia’s Poseidon UUV
The weapon can be fired from specific Russian naval platforms, such as the Belgorod-class submarine. Meanwhile, ABC reports that Russian officials claim the weapon is an unparalleled success based upon multiple tests. On October 29, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced the most recent successful powered test of the Poseidon—implicitly a reaction to the deterioration in relations between Russia and the West.
Poseidon was designed by the Rubin Design Bureau. It uses a compact nuclear reactor/liquid-metal reactor giving it very long range—effectively “unlimited” range for mission profiles. Meanwhile, it is believed that the weapon travels at speeds up to around 100 knots and operates at depths as far down as 1,000 meters.
The warhead carries a large yield—around two megatons—and, in true Strangelove fashion, allegedly comes “salted” with cobalt to increase long-term contamination.
This system is designed to generate radioactive tsunamis along the coastline of the enemy country, meaning this weapon is a true nightmare producing system. And Putin has been talking about this system more publicly ever since the Trump administration floated providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine in their ongoing war against Russia.
Why Does the Poseidon Matter?
Even if Poseidon’s capabilities are overstated by the Russians, this system represents an entirely new form of strategic weapon in that it is both nuclear-powered and a drone. Therefore, Poseidon purposely complicates naval defenses and arms control agreements.
The fact of the matter is that the Russians do not feel as though they should be hemmed in by the West anymore. Since the end of the Cold War, Moscow believes it was made to endure endless humiliations at the hands of the Western powers. Ukraine, in the mind of the Russian elite, was the final strategic straw.
So, after a decade or so of simply taking it (in their view), Russian leaders believe they must now resist unwanted Western aggression in what they perceive to be their “Near-Abroad.”
Hence, the Poseidon is not just a new nuclear weapon. It is a symbol of Russian power projection and of Russia’s ability to overmatch the West with their apocalyptic weapons. Poseidon is but another sign of the dark times the world has entered…and how, unlike the end of the Cold War, there might be no avoiding catastrophe.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted 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, and the Asia Times. 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: Shutterstock / mrivserg.
