Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russia had successfully tested the Poseidon nuclear-powered super-torpedo, an underwater weapon feared by military experts because of its unprecedented destructive potential.
According to the Kremlin, the test was conducted in northern Russia, and the craft traveled several hundred kilometers underwater before precisely hitting its target. Described as a next-generation autonomous torpedo, the Poseidon can be equipped with a nuclear warhead and, according to analysts, is capable of generating massive radioactive waves that could devastate entire coastal regions.
“Tuesday’s test was a great success,” Putin said, emphasizing that the trial demonstrates Russia’s ability to maintain its status as a major military power in the face of any external threat. He added that this technological advance illustrates Moscow’s “strategic response” to the containment policies pursued by the United States and its allies.
Western analysts believe that the Poseidon represents a significant shift in nuclear deterrence, as it can operate unmanned, at great depths, and over intercontinental distances. The weapon is reportedly designed to evade conventional missile defense systems.
This test comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, as the US president Donald Trump has recently strengthened sanctions against Russia and announced a review of the US nuclear posture. For Putin, this new test aims to remind everyone that Russia "has the means to respond to any aggression, regardless of its origin."
The Poseidon torpedo, first unveiled in 2018, is part of Russia's strategic weapons program aimed at modernizing the country's nuclear triad. Experts warn, however, that the development of such weapons could increase the risk of an arms race and destabilize the global strategic balance.
