Overview
- The Khabarovsk submarine was launched at the Sevmash shipyard, with Defense Minister Andrei Belousov saying it is designed for underwater weapons and robotic systems including the nuclear-capable Poseidon, and it will begin sea trials before eventual commissioning in the Pacific Fleet.
- At a Kremlin ceremony, President Vladimir Putin awarded the teams behind Poseidon and the Burevestnik cruise missile and repeated claims of recent successful tests, citing Burevestnik’s 14,000-kilometer flight and small reactors that activate within seconds.
- Putin asserted that Poseidon outpaces surface vessels in speed and operates at greater depths than existing systems, while stating there are no interception methods, though these performance claims remain unverified by outside sources.
- Satellite imagery and analyst assessments suggest Khabarovsk measures roughly 135–140 meters, shares design elements with Borei-class submarines, and, alongside Belgorod, forms part of a planned small force of Poseidon carriers likely based on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
- Western governments and analysts note significant secrecy around the programs and expect a lengthy path to broad operational readiness, as the announcements contribute to rising strategic friction that includes U.S. plans to resume nuclear testing.