According to TASS, the Russian Navy aspires to put more than 30 Poseidon strategic nuclear-capable underwater drones on combat duty. The ‘Poseidon,’ also known under Ocean Multipurpose System Status-6 or “Kanyon” by the U.S. intelligence community, is propelled by a miniaturized nuclear reactor.
Mainly, according to their source in the domestic defense industry, two Poseidon-carrying submarines are to begin operation with Russia’s Northern Fleet and the other two will join the Pacific Fleet later on.
In addition, each of the submarines will carry up to eight drones. As a result, the total number of Poseidons on combat duty may reach 32 vehicles.
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The nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk, that is currently being built at the Sevmash Shipyard, is to become one of the organic carriers of the Poseidon nuclear-capable underwater drone.
Moreover, submarines and Project 949A nuclear-powered underwater cruisers operational in the Russian Navy may be used as the carriers after their appropriate upgrade.
However, TASS has no official confirmation for the information.
President Vladimir Putin mentioned for the first time the country’s efforts to develop a nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle that can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and is capable of destroying enemy infrastructural facilities, aircraft carrier groups and other targets.
Concluding, Poseidon drones along with their carriers combine the so-called oceanic multipurpose system. The drone was named after open voting on the website of Russia’s Defense Ministry.
