CaliToday (03/11/2025): In a significant display of its strategic military modernization, Russia has officially launched the Khabarovsk, a new-generation, special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine, according to state media reports.
The launch is drawing intense international scrutiny because the Khabarovsk (Project 09851) is not a conventional submarine. It is the second vessel designed specifically to carry Russia's "Poseidon" strategic nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed autonomous torpedoes.
The Poseidon, often dubbed a "super-weapon" or "doomsday weapon" by analysts, is a revolutionary category of weapon. It is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of traveling intercontinental distances at high speeds, deep beneath the ocean's surface. Its purpose is to deliver a multi-megaton nuclear warhead to enemy coastlines, potentially creating a "radioactive tsunami" to destroy coastal cities and naval bases.
The Khabarovsk follows its sister ship, the Belgorod (K-329), which was the first submarine to be fitted for the Poseidon system and reportedly entered service last year. The launch of a second dedicated carrier signals Russia's firm commitment to this new, asymmetric pillar of its nuclear deterrent.
Unlike Russia's Borei-class ballistic missile submarines, whose mission is to launch ICBMs from the sea, the Khabarovsk's primary role is to serve as a mobile, stealthy launch platform for these underwater drones. It is believed to be derived from the Borei-class hull but extensively modified for its unique mission.
The deployment of the Khabarovsk represents a major development in Russia's "second-strike" capability the ability to launch a devastating retaliatory nuclear attack even if its land-based systems are destroyed. Western military strategists view the Poseidon system as a destabilizing weapon designed to bypass all existing missile defense systems. This launch confirms that the program is moving steadily from concept to a tangible, sea-faring reality.
CaliToday.Net