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Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered underwater drone, Poseidon, President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday. He said the new atomic-powered system, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, is unmatched in speed and depth and “cannot be intercepted.” The announcement came just days after he praised another successful test of a nuclear-powered cruise missile, reinforcing Russia’s show of strength amid ongoing tensions with the United States over Ukraine. Speaking at a meeting with soldiers wounded in Ukraine, the Russian president said. “For the first time, we managed not only to launch it from its carrier submarine … but also to activate its nuclear power unit, allowing the vehicle to operate for a certain period of time.” He described Poseidon’s nuclear reactor as being “100 times smaller” than those found on submarines, yet powerful enough to make the drone’s warhead “significantly higher than that of our most advanced Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile.” Design and capabilities of Poseidon Poseidon, first unveiled in the Kremlin leader’s 2018 state-of-the-nation address, has long been described as a doomsday weapon designed to create a massive radioactive tsunami by detonating near coastal targets. Russian media reports say the drone can travel up to 200 km/h (124 mph), far exceeding the speed of traditional torpedoes or warships. Its nuclear-powered propulsion gives it virtually unlimited range, making it difficult for enemy forces to detect or track. “In terms of speed and operating depth, there is nothing like this unmanned vehicle anywhere in the world, and it’s unlikely that anything similar will appear in the near future,” Putin noted. “And there is no way to intercept it.” He did not reveal where the latest test took place or provide further technical details, but the Kremlin views the Poseidon as a strategic deterrent capable of evading any existing missile defense systems.
