The Russian new nuclear submarine "Khabarovsk" has set sail for sea trials, equipped with six "Poseidon" nuclear torpedoes!

The Russian new submarine "Khabarovsk" has departed for testing in the White Sea (part of the Barents Sea in the Arctic Ocean). With a displacement of up to 10,000 tons, it can carry six "Poseidon" nuclear torpedoes. The new Russian nuclear-powered submarine "Khabarovsk" has made its debut. Weighing over 10,000 tons and measuring 135 meters in length, it is capable of carrying six Poseidon nuclear torpedoes, each with a yield of 2 million tons of TNT equivalent. This weapon can trigger radioactive tsunamis and potentially cause catastrophic devastation to certain island nations.

Last week, Russia's newest nuclear-armed submarine left the port of Severodvinsk and sailed toward the White Sea, located 140 miles from the Finnish border, for sea trials. A crew of 100 sailors and ground-based engineering teams will conduct comprehensive performance tests under extreme conditions—from mooring procedures to propulsion systems, steering mechanisms, submersion systems, as well as the integrated operation of sonar and onboard computer systems. It is reported that this submarine will eventually proceed eastward to join the Russian Pacific Fleet, which recently completed a series of missile test launches in waters north of Japan.

The "Poseidon" nuclear torpedo warhead can travel at approximately 70 knots at a depth of 1,000 meters. Powered by an onboard nuclear reactor, it achieves near-unlimited operational range. Unlike conventional missiles, this is not a guided missile but rather an autonomous underwater vehicle with self-maneuvering capabilities. Unlike traditional weapons, the "Poseidon" torpedo is designed to detonate upon reaching its target. The real threat lies not in the explosion itself, but in the subsequent radioactive tsunami triggered by a two-million-ton TNT-equivalent nuclear warhead—its destructive power exceeds that of the Hiroshima "Little Boy" atomic bomb by more than a hundredfold.

Dr. Richard Connelly, researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in the UK, stated outright that the "Poseidon" is a "final weapon" specifically designed for the "worst-case scenario." Some Russian online influencers have even called on the Kremlin to use these missiles to strike Britain in retaliation for its support of Ukraine, particularly after Britain’s decision last week to provide blueprints for the "Storm Shadow" cruise missile. The Russian Embassy in the UK declared: "The greater the support Britain gives to Ukraine, the higher the cost will be."

Intelligence gathered by British agencies indicates that two additional nuclear-armed attack submarines are already in the construction phase. The "Ulyanovsk" began construction in 2017, while the third submarine, the "Orenburg," is believed to have already been ordered. What concerns the British most is that their readiness to counter this emerging threat is severely inadequate.

"During the Cold War, we maintained tight surveillance over Soviet submarine programs," said Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, speaking to the Daily Mail this week. "But our defense spending has been insufficient, and now Putin is exploiting this weakness. The Kremlin's massive investment in modernizing its weapons systems is indeed alarming."

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874934681265152/

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