The coastal base for nuclear underwater robots "Poseidon" will be ready in the summer of 2022. By this time, the construction of the infrastructure for the maintenance and storage of this new strategic deterrent weapon will be completed. Tests of its first carrier are already nearing completion. Early creation of the base will allow to extend the service life of this equipment, experts say.
The coastal base for nuclear underwater robots "Poseidon" will be ready in the summer of 2022. By this time, the construction of the infrastructure for the maintenance and storage of this new strategic deterrent weapon will be completed. Tests of its first carrier are already nearing completion. Early creation of the base will allow to extend the service life of this equipment, experts say.
Finish line
For the Poseidons, a base for storage and maintenance, warehouses and workshops are being built, where they will be prepared for combat duty and launches. According to the terms of reference for the work (available to Izvestia), they should be completed and handed over to the Ministry of Defense in June 2022. By this time, it is planned to complete the landscaping of the territory.
The defense Ministry has not yet announced where the submarines armed with a marine robotic complex with a nuclear engine "Poseidon"will be based. At the end of last year, the Ministry of Defense announced the successful progress of work on the complex. The crew of the first carrier submarine has already begun the practical development of new weapons.
On Tuesday, January 12, the general director of Sevmash, Mikhail Budnichenko, said that the company is testing the K-329 Belgorod nuclear submarine. It will be the lead warship equipped with these devices.
— In Soviet times, it was a common occurrence when a new ship came to the place of registration, and there was nothing there but a hastily erected floating pier,-said the Hero of Russia, Rear Admiral Vsevolod Khmyrov. — At that time, such a technique was practiced — first create a system, and then think about how to provide it. But at the current stage of development of science and technology, it is no longer possible to do so.
The products for which the infrastructure is currently being built are high-tech robots, which are difficult to maintain in working condition, the expert added.
- To throw such equipment at once in water-all the same that to throw out, to make from it a piece of iron,-the rear admiral explained. — By itself, such equipment cannot exist, it must get into the appropriate atmosphere.
According to the former commander of the submarine, Captain 1st rank Igor Kurdin, mistakes of the Soviet period led to the fact that aircraft carriers and other large ships could not stand at the berth on unprepared bases.
"They were forced to stay on the roadstead and provide themselves with electricity," Eskpert said. — As a result, it turned out that the ships did not even go to sea yet, but already spent their motor life. The submarines were placed in locations that were built in the 1950-ies. It was inconvenient, to put it mildly. Creating the infrastructure in advance will significantly extend the service life of the new equipment.
Lords of the Oceans
The underwater drone received the modern name "Poseidon" following the results of the public vote held in March 2018. At the time of development, the complex had the code name "Skif".
For the first time, information about it appeared at the end of 2015, when the media got information about the development of a super-powerful nuclear torpedo in Russia. Then it was reported that it is designed to defeat the most important coastal infrastructure of the enemy and cause him guaranteed unacceptable damage.
According to the characteristics published now, thanks to the nuclear power plant, the underwater vehicle will have an unlimited range of travel. A sophisticated autopilot will allow it to hit a coastal target in any ocean. According to analysts, the dimensions of the device allow you to place in it a warhead that significantly exceeds the power of conventional intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Prior to the commissioning of submarines-carriers of new weapons, tests were conducted on the experimental submarine B-90 "Sarov". Since 2008, it has tested the launch of mock-ups, and then prototypes of the complex.
The first full-time carrier of the Poseidons will be the K-329 Belgorod special purpose submarine. It was built according to a modified project of the Soviet nuclear-powered submarine cruisers 949A "Antey". The nuclear drones will be located in six silo launchers.
Another submarine armed with strategic nuclear drones is also under construction. According to media reports, the launch of the Khabarovsk submarine is scheduled until the fall of this year.
Instruments of deterrence
At the same time as Poseidon in March 2018, Vladimir Putin announced the development in Russia of five more weapons designed for strategic deterrence. It was stated that they should guarantee our country the ability to launch a powerful retaliatory strike against a sudden nuclear attack and make the global missile defense system being created in the United States meaningless.
Some of them have already entered the Armed Forces. So, hypersonic aviation missile systems "Dagger" are put on experimental combat duty. A squadron of MiG-31K fighters, formed in the Southern Military District, performed hundreds of sorties with them on patrols and exercises.
In December 2019, the first regiment of intercontinental ballistic missiles with hypersonic planning units "Avangard"was put on combat duty. This made it possible to call it the world's first strategic hypersonic nuclear weapon. The novelty was equipped with the 13th missile Division of the Strategic Missile Forces near Orenburg. It is expected that soon it will be reported about the readiness of two more mine launchers there.
The first batch of laser systems "Peresvet", capable of blinding reconnaissance space satellites, is already on combat duty. Currently, work is underway to improve the system, reduce the size and composition of machines to increase its mobility.
The Sarmat heavy liquid-fueled intercontinental missile is being prepared for flight tests. Its characteristics will make it possible to overcome any missile defense systems, both modern and promising. Infrastructure for them is being created in the Orenburg Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Tests of a nuclear cruise missile "Burevestnik" with an unlimited flight range are continuing. Its unique power plant will allow the ammunition to stay in the air for many days in constant readiness to attack the enemy from the most unexpected directions.