Russia Successfully Tests Nuclear-Powered Drone, Putin Calls it 'Superweapon'

Strategic Insights -

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful testing of a nuclear-powered drone, known as Poseidon, which he described as a "superweapon" due to its speed and depth capabilities. The underwater drone, designed to evade defenses and travel at 100 knots, is one of Russia's six nuclear-weapons projects unveiled before the invasion of Ukraine. Putin stated that the Poseidon test took place on Tuesday and highlighted its potential to devastate a coastal city with a powerful enough tsunami. The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions with the West, particularly the United States, and follows the failed summit between President Trump and Putin.

Key Takeaways:

  • Russia's nuclear-powered drone, Poseidon, has been successfully tested, with Vladimir Putin describing it as a "superweapon" due to its speed and depth capabilities.
  • The Poseidon underwater drone is designed to travel at 100 knots (about 115 miles per hour) and evade defenses, potentially devastating a coastal city with a tsunami.
  • The test took place on Tuesday, and Putin mentioned that the drone had "traveled for a certain amount of time," without specifying its exact location or distance traveled.
  • The Poseidon is one of six nuclear-weapons projects unveiled by Russia before the invasion of Ukraine, with the goal of demonstrating a show of deterrence towards the West.
  • Putin also announced the successful testing of the nuclear-capable Burevestnik missile and said that it has "unrivaled advantages" and its nuclear reactor would take "minutes or seconds" to start.
  • The Kremlin has acknowledged the failure of a launch site test for the intercontinental missile Sarmat, with a massive crater left behind, casting doubts on its effectiveness.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Poseidon underwater drone is "unlikely" to be intercepted and that there are "no ways" to stop it.
  • Chrystia Freeland, the Canadian Deputy Prime Minister, criticized the statement made by Vladimir Putin, considering it a provocative move in the face of diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

Statistics:

  • Russia's nuclear-powered drone, Poseidon, travels at a speed of 100 knots (about 115 miles per hour).
  • The Poseidon underwater drone is designed to evade defenses and is capable of delivering a powerful tsunami to devastate a coastal city.
  • There are six nuclear-weapons projects unveiled by Russia, including the Poseidon, Burevestnik, and Sarmat.
  • Russia has successfully tested the nuclear-capable Burevestnik missile, with President Putin describing it as having "unrivaled advantages."

Sources:

  • Pool photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko
  • The New York Times
  • Kommersant newspaper