Russia’s advanced nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk, designed to carry the highly controversial Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedoes, has embarked on its first sea trials. Photographed leaving the northern port of Severodvinsk on August 17, the vessel is now conducting tests in the White Sea — drawing close attention from Western defense analysts and intelligence agencies.
A New Chapter for a Cold War-Era Concept
The Khabarovsk is part of Project 09851, a special-purpose class built to deploy up to six Poseidon autonomous underwater vehicles — dubbed by Russian state media as ‘doomsday weapons’ and personally promoted by President Vladimir Putin. Though the concept dates back to the 1950s, it was revived in the early 2000s as Moscow sought asymmetric tools to counter U.S. missile defense systems.
Each Poseidon torpedo is equipped with its own nuclear reactor, enabling an estimated range exceeding 6,000 nautical miles and operational depths of up to 3,280 feet. Designed to deliver massive thermonuclear warheads near enemy coastlines, they are intended not only to cause catastrophic explosions but also to generate devastating tsunami-like waves — a capability that blurs the line between strategic deterrence and escalation.
Deterrence or Provocation?
Recent rhetoric from Russian commentators has escalated concerns — some openly urging Putin to deploy Poseidon against the UK in retaliation for British drone deliveries to Ukraine. Such calls, however, have been met with sober assessments from defense experts. Dr. Richard Connolly, a Russia defense policy specialist at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), described Poseidon as ‘boutique torpedoes’: built in limited numbers, reserved for worst-case scenarios, and unlikely to be used without triggering overwhelming nuclear retaliation — including from Britain’s Trident-based deterrent.
William Alberque, former NATO official and arms control analyst, highlights another dimension: coercive signaling. He notes that Russia could use Poseidon’s launch as a political tool — deploying them early in a crisis to warn the U.S. that any intervention in a regional conflict could prompt strikes against American submarine bases. In this context, the weapon functions less as a battlefield asset and more as a lever in high-stakes strategic bargaining.
Uncertain Effectiveness
Despite its ominous reputation, Poseidon’s real-world viability remains contested. Like Russia’s nuclear-powered cruise missile Burevestnik (NATO codename ‘Skyfall’), Poseidon may be vulnerable to modern sonar detection — raising questions about survivability and reliability. Its integration into Russia’s naval doctrine, therefore, appears as much about perception and psychological pressure as about proven military utility.