Rear Admiral Valery Litvinov explained why a new cold war could start in the ocean
The American TV channel CNN called the Russian nuclear submarine Belgorod "a big and serious threat to the national security of the United States." Journalists refer to the opinion of the Congressional Research Service. They claim that the use of such a submarine "will change the strategy of the naval confrontation between the United States and Russia." "Newspaper.Ru" figured out why Americans are afraid of Belgorod.
The solemn ceremony of handing over the new nuclear submarine (submarine) project 09852 "Belgorod" to the Russian Navy (Pacific Fleet) took place quite recently - on July 8. And on April 23, 2021, the commander of the nuclear-powered vessel, Captain 1st rank Anton Alekhine smashed a traditional bottle of champagne on her side at the Severodvinsk Sevmash plant.
CNN's attention to Belgorod was riveted by the fact that this submarine will be the first carrier of Poseidon nuclear attack drones, which have received the NATO codification Kanyon. According to open sources, the submarine will carry 6-8 such vehicles.
"The main task of the Poseidon apparatus is to deliver a nuclear munition to the shores of a likely enemy in order to defeat important coastal elements of the enemy's economic infrastructure and cause guaranteed unacceptable damage by creating extensive zones of radioactive contamination, tsunamis and other destructive consequences of a nuclear explosion," he told the newspaper.Ru" member of the Board of Military Experts Sergey Belousov.
Retired Russian Navy Rear Admiral Valery Litvinov agrees that the appearance of Belgorod could provoke a new Cold War.
"The appearance of Belgorod and Poseidons can really change the military strategy in the most serious way. The fact is that there is no means of counteraction against the Poseidons yet. A nuclear missile can be shot down. Nuclear underwater drone - no. This does not mean that a means of neutralization cannot appear in principle. It will most likely appear. And then they will think about how to get around this tool. The last Cold War is in many ways a war of missiles and missile defense systems, it was in the air. A new war will go on in the ocean," he told the newspaper.Ru" Litvinov.
The experimental carrier of the submarine system of the project 09582 Belgorod is a redesigned project of the multipurpose nuclear submarine 949A Antey. It was laid down in 1992, but in 1994 it was excluded from the Navy and mothballed. In 2012, the General Staff of the Navy announced that Belgorod would be completed according to a special project.
During the completion and alteration, the length of the submarine increased from 154 to 184 meters. At that time, there was no talk of placing Poseidons on it. It was assumed that the submarine would be the carrier of deep-sea nuclear vehicles of the Losharik type (not carrying weapons) or autonomous deep-water stations Halibut and Nelma. That is, the Belgorod was originally converted into a carrier boat.
Of the other weapons on the submarine, 24 anti-submarine "Waterfall" and supersonic "Wind" missiles are placed in side containers outside the strong hull.
"But the main weapon of the Belgorod submarine will, of course, be the unmanned Poseidons," he told the Newspaper.Ru" military expert, captain of the 1st rank of the reserve Vasily Dandykin. - President Vladimir Putin said back in 2019 that the tests had passed a key stage. So, to a high degree of probability, we can say that the Poseidons, even if they are still part of one set, are ready for use."
The expert recalled that the development of Poseidon had been carried out since 2010, but for a long time the meaning of this development was not clear, as well as the purpose of Belgorod was not clear.
"The Americans were then puzzled by the appearance of a submarine in Russia with a large combat potential, but "with an unclear purpose." The Americans did not know the real purpose of this boat, and therefore they were nervous," Belousov said.
So, in early July, it became known about the desire of the US Senate to launch the Snakehead ("Snake Head") underwater drone program. $100 million will be allocated for its preliminary study.
Viktor Sokirko
