Russia has launched trials of its latest nuclear-armed submarine, the Khabarovsk, signaling a significant advancement in its naval capabilities. The vessel, which recently departed Severodvinsk Port on Russia’s White Sea coast, will undergo extensive testing before entering active service. It is designed to carry six Poseidon nuclear torpedoes, a new class of autonomous underwater weapons that have raised strategic concerns internationally.

The Khabarovsk weighs over 10,000 tons and measures 135 meters in length. Its design is based on the Borei-A class nuclear ballistic missile submarines but features a widened bow to accommodate the six Poseidon torpedoes, each measuring approximately 20 meters long, two meters in diameter, and weighing 110 tonnes. In comparison, the only other submarine able to carry Poseidon weapons, the RFS Belgorod, holds three such torpedoes.

Poseidon torpedoes are nuclear-powered and capable of traveling underwater at speeds near 70 knots at depths of up to 1,000 meters. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, they maneuver autonomously and have an effectively unlimited range due to an onboard nuclear reactor. The weapons are designed to detonate near coastal targets, creating massive radioactive tsunamis. Experts warn that the two-megaton detonation could produce a radioactive wave sufficient to cause widespread destruction, rendering areas uninhabitable for generations and resulting in millions of casualties. Russian military analysts consider Poseidon a “boutique capability” intended for extreme, last-resort scenarios.

The Khabarovsk can operate at depths up to 500 meters with a top speed of 32 knots and can remain at sea for up to 120 days. Its propulsion system uses a single shaft pump jet, a quieter alternative to conventional propellers, enhancing its stealth by reducing underwater noise. The submarine also has two auxiliary thrusters for low-speed maneuvering. The six Poseidon launchers are installed in two flooded, longitudinal hangars on the ship’s port and starboard sides, with conventional torpedoes situated between them.

Construction of the Khabarovsk began in 2014 after a billion-dollar contract was awarded to Rubin Design Bureau. Although initially planned to be operational by 2020, the project faced delays likely due to economic pressures and the COVID-19 pandemic, only emerging from its construction facility in late 2023.

Intelligence sources indicate that Russia is building two more nuclear-capable submarines in this class—the Ulyanovsk and the Orenburg—continuing its expansion of strategic naval forces.

The launch of the Khabarovsk and its advanced weaponry has generated concern beyond Russia’s borders. British defense officials and former senior naval officers warn that the country is ill-prepared to respond to this new threat. Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, expressed concern that Western deterrence and anti-submarine efforts have diminished since the Cold War, potentially leaving NATO vulnerable. Some Russian media figures have issued direct threats to Britain in response to its support for Ukraine, including calls to use Poseidon torpedoes as retaliation.

While Russian authorities maintain that these torpedoes serve as a deterrent for “the very worst of scenarios,” their potential deployment reflects escalating tensions and the evolving nature of strategic warfare in the region.