MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered Poseidon super torpedo, a weapon military analysts believe could devastate coastal areas by generating massive radioactive ocean waves.
Putin revealed the development while meeting wounded Russian soldiers at a hospital in Moscow, saying the test was conducted from a carrier submarine on Tuesday. “For the first time, we managed not only to launch it with a launch engine from a submarine but also to activate the nuclear power unit, which operated for some time,” he said, calling the Poseidon an unmatched weapon with no existing interception capability.
The Poseidon, named after the Greek god of the sea, is a nuclear-capable hybrid between a torpedo and an underwater drone. Analysts estimate it can travel up to 10,000 kilometers at speeds of around 185 kilometers per hour, carrying a warhead potentially as powerful as two megatons.
This test follows Russia’s trial of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile on October 21 and large-scale nuclear launch drills on October 22. Western analysts view these demonstrations as part of Moscow’s efforts to underline its nuclear strength amid tensions with the West over the war in Ukraine.
The renewed nuclear testing comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump has hardened his rhetoric toward Moscow, calling Russia a “paper tiger” for its prolonged campaign in Ukraine. Analysts interpret Russia’s actions as an assertion that it remains a major military power and a signal to Washington to take Moscow’s nuclear dialogue seriously.
Arms experts warn that the Poseidon, also known by its NATO designation “Kanyon,” represents a new class of strategic weapon that challenges traditional nuclear deterrence frameworks. Russian media describe it as 20 meters long, weighing 100 tonnes, and powered by a liquid-metal-cooled reactor.
