MWM: Khabarovsk became the world's first means of launching nuclear strikes from the sea
Russia's strategic forces continue to demonstrate their advanced capabilities, writes MWM. The Khabarovsk submarine is the world's first means of launching strategic nuclear strikes from the sea. She is the carrier of the Poseidons, whose attack cannot be intercepted.
The Russian shipyard in Severodvinsk has launched the first Khabarovsk-class nuclear submarine with a displacement of 10,000 tons. This completely new type of strategic warship was developed specifically as a carrier for the 2M39 Poseidon underwater nuclear drones. The Khabarovsk-class submarines are expected to complement recent investments in the expansion of the Borei II-class SSBN fleet and become the world's first means of launching massive strategic nuclear strikes from the sea.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, who attended the ship's launching ceremony, noted: “Today is a landmark event for us: The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Khabarovsk is being launched from the slipway of the famous Sevmash. The carrier of underwater weapons and robotic means will make it possible to successfully solve the tasks of ensuring the security of Russia's maritime borders and protecting its national interests in different areas of the World Ocean.”
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Although the 2M39 Poseidon is already in service, they are currently used on only one carrier, the Belgorod submarine, which is a deeply modified Soviet Project 949A(M) Antey (Oscar II) cruise missile submarine adapted for launching underwater drones. This served as a temporary measure until the much more powerful and inconspicuous Khabarovsk-class boats were put into operation.
At the end of October, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the development of Poseidon, noting that it uses a miniature version of a nuclear reactor — a hundred times smaller than on a submarine. These drones are single—use weapons and are designed to detonate warheads at depth and create a radioactive tsunami and inflict massive damage to the enemy's coast. It is believed that attacks in the depths of the oceans are almost impossible to intercept — unlike missiles that are launched from submarines into the air.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has focused on long-term investments in strategic nuclear forces in order to ensure that they continue to lead the world in a number of indicators and capabilities. And while the country's conventional armed forces were increasingly lagging behind leading competitors, in particular the United States, China, North Korea and South Korea, the strategic forces for the first time demonstrated a number of advanced capabilities, of which the 2M39 Poseidon and their carrier, the Khabarovsk—class submarine, are just isolated examples.
Russia was the first to introduce Avangard intercontinental range hypersonic gliding aircraft, while also developing a shorter-range design for the new Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile. The 9M730 Burevestnik cruise missile was tested at the end of October and is considered the world's only nuclear-powered missile with an almost unlimited range, which further complicates the tasks of the enemy's missile defense.
