Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A senior Russian naval commander has declared that the launch of the nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk marks the beginning of operational deployment for Russia’s highly secretive Poseidon underwater nuclear weapons system.
Admiral Vyacheslav Popov, who commanded Russia’s Northern Fleet between 1997 and 2001, told the state news agency RIA Novosti that the Khabarovsk’s entry into service signals the activation of the integrated “Poseidon + Submarine” strategic system. According to Popov, this dual capability will enhance Russia’s security along both its western and eastern maritime frontiers.
“With the commissioning of the Belgorod and now the Khabarovsk, the Poseidon–submarine system will be operational across Russia’s eastern and western naval theaters,” he said. Popov added that while the current system includes only these two submarines, Moscow plans to expand production of vessels belonging to the Khabarovsk class in the future.
The admiral explained that key technologies and operational concepts for the Poseidon system were first tested aboard the Belgorod submarine. The lessons learned from those trials guided the design and construction of the Khabarovsk, which is considered the first serially produced submarine built specifically for Poseidon deployment.
“First, a prototype is built to test all technologies,” Popov said. “Then, serial production begins. Khabarovsk represents that next stage.”
A Milestone in Russia’s Naval Strategic Capabilities
The announcement follows President Vladimir Putin’s statement earlier this week confirming that Russia had successfully tested a Poseidon underwater drone on Tuesday. The Poseidon also known by NATO as the “Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System”, is a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed torpedo designed to travel intercontinental distances underwater and deliver devastating strikes against coastal targets, including naval bases and cities.
Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, former Chief of Staff of the Russian Navy, also told RIA Novosti that the Khabarovsk, built at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, was specifically designed to carry and deploy Poseidon nuclear torpedoes.
A Ceremonial Launch and Strategic Significance
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that the Khabarovsk submarine had been officially launched into the water during a ceremonial event held at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, a major center for nuclear submarine construction in Russia’s north.
Defense analysts view the event as a major milestone in Russia’s strategic weapons modernization program. Once fully operational, the Khabarovsk is expected to join the Northern Fleet and work alongside the Belgorod, enhancing Russia’s second-strike nuclear capability and strengthening its deterrence posture at sea.
The combination of nuclear-powered submarines and the autonomous Poseidon drones is seen by Moscow as a critical element of its strategic deterrence strategy, one capable of bypassing conventional missile defense systems and guaranteeing a retaliatory strike in the event of nuclear conflict.
