2M39 Poseidon
The Poseidon Torpedo, with classified propulsion system censored
TypeNuclear-powered, nuclear-armed UUV
Place of originRussia
Service history
Used byRussia
Production history
DesignerRubin Design Bureau and other defence industrial enterprises of Russian Federation
Designed2015
Produced2023
Specifications
MassUp to 100 metric tons
LengthUp to 20 m (65.6 ft)
DiameterUp to 2 m
Blast yieldSpeculated to be 2 Mt or more[1]: 24 [2][3]
EngineLiquid metal reactor
At least 15 MW
TransmissionElectric transmission
Operational
range
Unlimited
Maximum depthUp to 1,000 meters (3280 ft)[4]
Maximum speed Up to 100 knots (185 km/h / 115 MPH)
Guidance
system
GLONASS satellite guidance, also AI guidance
Launch
platform
Submarine
External videos
video icon Poseidon Oceanic Multipurpose System on YouTube //
video icon Field tests of the Poseidon complex on YouTube //

The Poseidon (Russian: Посейдон, "Poseidon", GRAU index 2M39, NATO reporting name Kanyon), previously known by Russian codename Status-6 (Russian: Статус-6), is an autonomous, nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle reportedly in production by Rubin Design Bureau, capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear warheads.[1][5][6]

The Poseidon is one of the six new Russian strategic weapons announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1 March 2018.[7]

History

The first public appearance of Poseidon dates back to September 2015 and cites Pentagon sources.[8]

On 10 November 2015, a page of a document that contained information about a secret "oceanic multi-purpose system" called "Status-6" was "accidentally" revealed by Russian NTV television channel. The leak happened during Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech denouncing American plans concerning "defensive" missile technology.[9] Speculation arose as to whether this was a warning signal or disinformation intended to mislead foreign intelligence services.[10] The CIA has claimed the leak was intentional.[9]

According to the Pentagon, Russia conducted the first test-launch of Poseidon on 27 November 2016, using the B-90 Sarov special purpose submarine. The test was reportedly carried out in the Arctic Ocean.[11][12]

In early 2018, the Pentagon's Nuclear Posture Review publicly acknowledged development of Russia's "new intercontinental, nuclear armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous torpedo".[13][14][15][16]

In March 2018, the system was officially named "Poseidon", following a public vote.[17]

In January 2019, the Russian Navy announced plans to procure at least 30 Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicles, deployed on four submarines, two of which would serve in the Russian Northern Fleet and two in the Pacific Fleet.[18]

On 2 February 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced completion of the key stage of trials of Poseidon.[19]

On 20 February 2019, the Russian Defence Ministry released a video, showing a Poseidon being test-launched by a B-90 Sarov special purpose submarine.[20]

On 16 January 2023, it was reported that the first batch of the weapons has been manufactured.[21]

Design speculation

Overview

Estimated diameter of the Poseidon, about 2 meters

The Poseidon is intended to serve as response to U.S. withdrawal from the ABM treaty and to increase the Russian capability to overcome the U.S. missile defense systems,[1]: 25 [22][2][3] such as anti-ballistic missiles, etc.

The Poseidon warhead can contaminate a large area with radiation. For this purpose, the Poseidon is speculated to be equipped with a cobalt bomb.[23][24] The Poseidon could be a radiological second strike weapon.[25][26]

Normal (not salted) thermonuclear weapons cause radioactive fallout primarily through neutron activation of material at the detonation site. Unless the detonation happens at low depths in shallow waters, an underwater detonation will have its fallout greatly reduced, except for at the surface immediately above, near the base surge. Much of the radioactivity will be deposited in the sea, and be carried by ocean currents.[27] Water (and air) will not form radioisotopes suitable for radiological warfare when neutron activated, however the seawater-salt will, and the seabed may.

If used against an aircraft carrier battle group, the battle group would have reduced chances of defending itself against it. The drone could detonate its very large warhead at standoff range, and anti-submarine warfare units would have very little time to react because of the speed at which it travels.[28]

Specifications

The Poseidon appears to be a torpedo-shaped robotic mini-submarine which can travel at speeds of 185 km/h (100 kn).[25][26][29] More recent information suggests a top speed of 100 km/h (54 kn), with a range of 10,000 km (5,400 nmi; 6,200 mi) and a depth maximum of 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[30]

Typical depth of the drone may be about 50–100 meters (160–330 ft) for increased stealth features in low-speed stealth mode. Low depth in stealth mode is preferred because sound waves move to ocean floor and reduce radius of detection. Submarines use the same strategy in silent running mode.[31]

It is 1.6–2 metres (5–7 ft) in diameter and 24 metres (80 ft) long.[32] The warhead shown in the leaked figure is a cylinder 1.5 metres (5 ft) in diameter by 4 metres (13 ft) in length, giving a volume of 7 cubic metres (250 cu ft). Comparing this to the volumes of other large thermonuclear bombs, the 1961 Soviet-era Tsar Bomba itself measured 8 metres (26 ft) long by 2.1 metres (6 ft 11 in) in diameter, indicating that the yield is at least several tens of megatons, generally consistent with early reports of 100 megatons.[33]

Body

Most likely, the high-strength body of the device is made of titanium alloys.

Powerplant

The National Interest compiled several unclassified defense sources from General Electric experts about the similar 601B project[34][35][36] and they predicted low weight and compact gas-cooled nuclear reactor in the drone.[37] Russian submarine designers say that a low-power reactor is preferred for Poseidon because a smaller reactor is less noisy.[31]

Stealth technology

Pump-jet of the drone[31]

The development includes also use of stealth technology, to elude acoustic tracking devices.[26][31][38] Poseidon uses a silent running strategy like other submarines. Its main stealth feature is its very low speed before it reaches the target area. Its high-speed mode activates upon reaching a short finish range (2–3 kilometers), when the probability of detection of the drone is considerably higher. It could travel for weeks toward enemy port cities, reaching high-speed only in the final stage.[37]

Russian designers estimated the radius of detection of the drone will be about 2–3 km (1.2–1.9 mi) for 55 km/h (34 mph).[31] A second important stealth feature of the drone is the special design of the pump-jet for clearance of the drone's acoustic signature to imitate the noise of civil ships.[31]

Calculation of detection range for modern acoustic sonar of Virginia-class submarine[31]
Speed of the drone (km/h) Detection range (km)
37 1.7
55 3
74 29
93 43

A U.S. intelligence officer told CNBC that the Poseidon is difficult to detect and difficult to target in stealth mode.[39]

Supercavitation

Poseidon is a family of drones, some of which are designed only for destroying coastal cities and thus rely on "stealth" capabilities rather than on high speed,[31] others of which are primarily designed to attack carrier battle groups[28] and were claimed to possibly harness supercavitation, like the VA-111 Shkval torpedo, to attain extremely high speeds (>230 mph) in attack mode.[40][41] However, supercavitation devices have not been observed on the available footage of Poseidon.[42] The Pentagon estimates maximum speed of the Poseidon to be about 56 kn (104 km/h; 64 mph) without the supercavitation option.[43]

Launch platforms

The two ships speculated to carry the Poseidon are the Project 09852 modified Oscar-class submarine Belgorod and the Project 09851 Khabarovsk submarines.[26][32][44][45] Oscar-class submarines could carry six Poseidon torpedoes at the same time for a total yield of up to 12-600 megatons.[46][47]

According to some reports, Poseidon may have a seabed or mobile site launch option. In this configuration, known as Skif (Скиф) and patented by designer Alexander Shalnev,[48] Poseidon can be staged on the sea floor in a special container as long as necessary. Russian auxiliary vessels Zvezdochka (Project 20180) and Akademik Aleksandrov (Project 20183), both of which feature ice-breaking capabilities, are involved in testing of Poseidon drones, indicating that these ships may be used as platforms for deploying and retrieving such a seabed version.[49][50]

Facts

In 2022, Russian domestic TV propaganda said Poseidon will be able to "plunge Britain into the depths of the sea".[51][52] According to Russian propaganda, the Poseidon Torpedo may initiate a 500 m high shockwave.[53]

Various sources disregard these claims by pointing out the difference between a potential wave generated by the weapon and a naturally occurring tsunami. Large tsunamis are usually directed along one path, whereas an undersea explosion causes a wave to spread in 360°, which attenuates more rapidly with distance than a unidirectional wave does. As a comparison, the energy release that caused the 2011 Japan Tsunami was 163,000 times larger than Tsar Bomba, the upper estimate of Poseidon's possible power.[54]

Reactions

Following the Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements during his presentation of several new Russian super-weapons[55][56] in March 2018, in which he specifically referenced to the Poseidon as a weapon which could also target and hit American port cities, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis stated Russia already had the potential capability of targeting certain port cities on the American coastline with missiles, and said thus Poseidon "does not change at all the strategic balance".[57]

Future users

 Russia

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Russia's Nuclear Weapons: Doctrine, Forces, and Modernization. Congressional Research Service. September 13, 2021. pp. 24–25. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  2. 1 2 "The Truth Behind Russia's 'Apocalypse Torpedo'". Popular Mechanics. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Russian drone submarine would threaten U.S. coast; nuclear vessel in development". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  4. ↑ "H I Sutton - Covert Shores".
  5. ↑ Trakimavičius, Lukas. "The Future Role of Nuclear Propulsion in the Military" (PDF). NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  6. ↑ "СМИ узнали о выпуске первого боекомплекта подводных беспилотников "Посейдон"". ФлотПром. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Russia Releases Videos Offering An Unprecedented Look At Its Six New Super Weapons - The Drive". 19 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Russia Building Nuclear-Armed Drone Submarine". The Washington Free Beacon. Sep 8, 2015. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Russia reveals giant nuclear torpedo in state TV 'leak'". bbc.com. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  10. ↑ "CIA: Leak of Nuclear-Armed Drone Sub Was Intentional". The Washington Free Beacon. November 19, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-20.
  11. ↑ "Did Russia test doomsday weapon in Arctic waters?". The Independent Barents Observer.
  12. ↑ Pentagon Confirms Russia Has a Submarine Nuke Delivery Drone Popular Mechanics. By Kyle Mizokami, Dec 8, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Russia has underwater nuclear drones, newly leaked Pentagon documents reveal". Newsweek. 14 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Russia is also developing at least two new intercontinental range systems, a hypersonic glide vehicle and a new intercontinental, nuclear-armed undersea autonomous torpedo.
  14. ↑ "US says Russia 'developing' undersea nuclear-armed torpedo". CNN. 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Pentagon Confirms Existence of Russian Doomsday Torpedo". Popular Mechanics. 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  16. ↑ Farley, Robert (20 January 2018). "Russia's Status-6: The Ultimate Nuclear Weapon or an Old Idea That Won't Die?". The National Interest. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "New Russian weapons named". Jane's 360. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Russian Navy to put over 30 Poseidon strategic underwater drones on combat duty - source". TASS (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  19. ↑ "Key stage of Poseidon underwater drone trials completed, says Putin". TASS. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  20. ↑ "The Latest: Russia releases video of new underwater drone". Associated Press. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "First batch of nuclear-armed drones Poseidon manufactured for special-purpose sub Belgorod". TASS. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  22. ↑ "Video Suggests Russia's Poseidon Nuclear-Powered Drone Has A Seabed-Launched Version". Forbes. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  23. ↑ "Russia reveals giant nuclear torpedo in state TV 'leak'". BBC. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  24. ↑ "Россия "засветила" новое супероружие". Российская газета (in Russian). 12 November 2015. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  25. 1 2 Steven Pifer S. Russia's perhaps-not-real super torpedo. Brookings Institution. November 18, 2015.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Oliphant R. Secret Russian radioactive doomsday torpedo leaked on television. Telegraph. 13 November 2015
  27. ↑ Glasstone, Samuel (1962). The Effects of Nuclear Weapons. U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. pp. 414, 467–469.
  28. 1 2 Pentagon Confirms Russia Has a Submarine Nuke Delivery Drone Popular Mechanics. Kyle Mizokami, Dec 8, 2016.
  29. ↑ Lockie, Alex (24 December 2016). "Trump questions the US's nuclear arsenal: Here's how the US's nukes compare to Russia's". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  30. ↑ "Pentagon Confirms Russia's Thermonuclear Submarine Bomb Is Real". 8 December 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "О возможностях гидроакустического обнаружения суперторпед системы "Статус-6" - ВПК.name". vpk.name. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  32. 1 2 Insinna, Valerie (12 January 2018). "Russia's nuclear underwater drone is real and in the Nuclear Posture Review". DefenseNews. Gannett. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  33. ↑ "Russia releases first video footage of new Kanyon/Status-6 nuclear torpedo | Naval Today". 19 July 2018.
  34. ↑ Commosar, S; CALVERT; HILLMAN; CHASE; NASH; NICOLL; OSGOOD; SEMPLE; THOME (1962). CULVER (ed.). APEX-910. APPLICATION STUDIES. General Electric. p. 139.
  35. ↑ Axe, David (2013-08-06). "This Nuclear Outboard Motor Was a Really Terrible Idea". Medium. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  36. ↑ "601B project". up-ship.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  37. 1 2 Steve Weintz (2018-07-07). "Why Russia's Status-6 Torpedo Is Really a 100-Megaton Cruise Missile". The National Interest. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  38. ↑ "Есть ли в России современное гидроакустическое вооружение? - ВПК.name". vpk.name. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  39. ↑ Macias, Amanda (2019-03-25). "Russia's nuclear-armed underwater drone may be ready for war in 2027". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  40. ↑ "Источник: стратегический подводный беспилотник "Посейдон" получит скорость более 200 км/ч". ТАСС. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  41. ↑ Hambling, David (2019-01-18). "Who's Afraid of Russia's Apocalypse Torpedo?". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  42. ↑ "H I Sutton - Covert Shores". www.hisutton.com. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  43. ↑ "Pentagon documents confirm Russia is developing a nuclear submersible doomsday weapon". NEWSREP. 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  44. ↑ Franz-Stefan Gady. "Revealed: Russia's Top Secret Nuclear Torpedo". The Diplomat. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  45. ↑ Russian Mystery Submarine Likely Deployment Vehicle for New Nuclear Torpedo. USNI News.
  46. ↑ "Russia's New 'Poseidon' Super-Weapon: What You Need To Know". 3 March 2022.
  47. ↑ "Russia's most secret sub soon to be launched with this terrifying weapon".
  48. ↑ "Глубочайшая тайна России | Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер"". vpk-news.ru. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  49. ↑ "H I Sutton - Covert Shores". www.hisutton.com. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  50. ↑ "Military research ship returns after months on secret Arctic mission". The Independent Barents Observer.
  51. ↑ Harding, Luke (2022-05-03). "Ireland condemns Russian TV for nuclear attack simulation". The Guardian.
  52. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-61638389 from time 1:40
  53. ↑ Nellist, Tom (2019-05-11). "Russia's new NUCLEAR TORPEDO can create 500m radioactive tsunami". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  54. ↑ Mosher, Dave. "A new Russian video may show a 'doomsday machine' able to trigger 300-foot tsunamis — but nuclear weapons experts question why you'd ever build one". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  55. ↑ "Here's the Six Super Weapons Putin Unveiled During Fiery Address". March 2018.
  56. ↑ "03 Putin's 'super weapons'".
  57. ↑ "Russia says it has successfully launched powerful new missile". the Guardian. 11 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
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