Russia officially launched its newest nuclear submarine, Project 09851 “Khabarovsk”, designed to carry Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone, often referred to as the “doomsday missile”. The submarine was ceremonially launched at the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk by the Russian Defence Minister.
This development marks a major advancement in Russia’s underwater nuclear deterrence capability and demonstrates Moscow’s continuing emphasis on strategic weapons development amid escalating tensions with the United States and NATO.
About Project 09851 ‘Khabarovsk’
- Type: Nuclear-powered special-purpose submarine
- Class: Project 09851 (Lead vessel of the class)
- Purpose: To carry the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone (Status-6).
- Designation: First operational carrier of the Poseidon underwater weapon system.
Development Timeline
- Construction Contract Signed: 2012
- Laid Down: July 27, 2014, at Sevmash Shipyard, Severodvinsk
- Originally Planned Launch: 2018
- Actual Launch: 2025 (after years of delay due to technical and strategic adjustments)
- Design Bureau: Rubin Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering, Russia.
Technical Specifications (as known from open sources)
- Length: Approximately 113 metres
- Beam: Over 10 metres
- Underwater Displacement: Around 10,000 tonnes
- Propulsion: Nuclear reactor-powered, enabling virtually unlimited range
- Submerged Endurance: 90–120 days
- Maximum Submerged Speed: 30–32 knots
- Armament:
- Up to six Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drones
- Standard torpedo tubes for self-defence
- Primary Role: Strategic nuclear deterrence, maritime domain dominance, and robotic underwater operations
- Operational Status: To undergo sea trials and outfitting before induction into Russia’s special-purpose underwater fleet
Strategic Role and Purpose
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, Khabarovsk’s nuclear propulsion and advanced underwater weaponry will:
- Strengthen maritime border security,
- Enable operations across global oceanic regions,
- And serve as a carrier for robotic and nuclear deterrence systems.
Once fully operational, Khabarovsk will form part of Russia’s special-purpose submarine fleet, focused on strategic deterrence and intelligence missions.
Future Developments
- The Khabarovsk is the lead vessel of Project 09851.
- A related class, Project 09853, is envisioned to follow between 2028 and 2035 as production carriers of Poseidon.
- As of now, there is no official update on the status of the subsequent submarines in the series.
Poseidon: Russia’s “Doomsday Missile”
- Russian Name: Status-6 Poseidon
- Type: Nuclear-powered, unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV)
- Purpose: Long-range strategic deterrence through autonomous, intercontinental underwater travel.
- Power Source: Miniature nuclear reactor (around 100 times smaller than that of a standard submarine reactor).
Capabilities
- Maximum Speed: Up to 185 km/h (≈100 knots)
- Operational Range: Around 10,000 kilometres
- Warhead Options: Conventional or nuclear
- Operational Depth: Extreme depths beyond the range of most sonar detection systems
- Key Feature: Can evade detection and penetrate missile defences by travelling deep underwater and at very high speeds.
Strategic Significance
The Poseidon drone is designed to deliver massive nuclear strikes along coastlines, generating radioactive tsunamis that can devastate enemy naval bases or coastal cities. It represents a new category of strategic weapon, combining torpedo and drone characteristics — effectively blurring lines between traditional submarine and missile deterrence.
Burevestnik: The Other Nuclear Weapon
Alongside Poseidon, Russia has also been testing another nuclear-powered weapon — the Burevestnik cruise missile. Unlike conventional missiles, Burevestnik is equipped with a mini nuclear reactor, allowing it to remain airborne indefinitely and strike targets across continents.
Recent Developments
- Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on October that Russia had successfully tested Burevestnik, followed by large-scale nuclear drills.
- The exercises involved all three components of Russia’s nuclear triad:
- Land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
- Submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)
- Air-launched nuclear cruise missiles
Strategic Context
Western analysts interpret these actions as signals of nuclear readiness and deterrence amid intensifying geopolitical friction with the United States and NATO, especially under ongoing economic sanctions and arms control tensions.
Sevmash Shipyard
- Full Name: JSC Sevmash (Severodvinsk Machine-Building Enterprise)
- Location: Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia
- Specialization: Construction of nuclear submarines and warships
- Notable Project: Refitting of INS Vikramaditya for India’s Navy
Rubin Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering
- Founded: 1901
- Headquarters: Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Rubin is among Russia’s oldest and most experienced naval design institutions, also known for designing the majority of the country’s ballistic missile submarines and for modernising INS Vikramaditya (India’s aircraft carrier).
- Key Projects:
- Russia’s Borei-class and Delta-class ballistic missile submarines
- Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines (exported to India and other nations)
Strategic Significance of Khabarovsk’s Launch
- Strengthens Russia’s underwater nuclear deterrence capabilities.
- Establishes the Poseidon system’s operational carrier, signalling new forms of strategic warfare.
- Demonstrates advancement in autonomous underwater nuclear technology.
- Highlights Russia’s defiance of Western pressure and sanctions.
- Reinforces Rubin and Sevmash’s leading roles in nuclear submarine innovation.
Global Context
- Russia joins the U.S. and China in the pursuit of next-generation strategic underwater systems.
- The launch coincides with the breakdown of key nuclear arms control agreements, including the New START Treaty, heightening global nuclear tension.
- The Khabarovsk and Poseidon duo represent a significant shift in nuclear deterrence strategy, focusing on autonomous and long-endurance underwater platforms.