Submarine "Belgorod" project 09852 was transferred to the Navy of the Russian Federation.

This was reported at the Sevmash enterprise.

Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Nikolai Evmenov at a ceremony in Severodvinsk noted that the advanced achievements of science and the latest construction technologies were used in the creation of the submarine.

“The Belgorod submarine opens up new opportunities for Russia in conducting various studies, allows conducting diverse scientific expeditions and rescue operations in the most remote areas of the World Ocean.

This is the result of the selfless work of the shipbuilders of JSC "PO" Sevmash ", engineers and designers of JSC" Central Design Bureau MT "Rubin", specialists of the Navy, workers of allied enterprises from all over Russia.

The overall task of building the Belgorod submarine has been completed.

I wish the crew a successful voyage and seven feet under the keel!

Evmenov said.

"Belgorod" and "Poseidon"

Multi-purpose nuclear submarine "Belgorod" is the only representative of project 09852. Initially, this submarine was laid down in the early 1990s as a nuclear submarine of project 949A "Antey".

Subsequently, construction was stopped, and the submarine was mothballed.

In 2012, the Belgorod was relaid according to a special project 09852, and in 2019 it was launched.

  • Submarine handover ceremony

  • © Press service of JSC "PO "Sevmash"

Underwater displacement of "Belgorod" - almost 24 thousand tons, length - 184 m, width - 18.2 m. This submarine is almost 11 m longer than the Project 941 "Shark" submarines, which are the largest in the world.

With such dimensions, the Belgorod will be able to reach speeds of up to 32 knots and dive to a depth of up to 510 m. At the moment, other characteristics and data on the armament of the submarine are not disclosed, however, information appeared in the media and open sources that the Belgorod was equipped with propellers of a special design, which provide a high speed of the submarine, while allowing it to remain quiet.

The main feature of the project 09852 submarine is the ability to carry the Poseidon underwater vehicle (formerly called Status-6).

It is a large-sized nuclear torpedo drone designed to deliver a nuclear charge to the enemy's coast to destroy coastal infrastructure and cause guaranteed damage to the territory.

The development of Poseidon was first announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his message to the Federal Assembly in 2018.

As the Russian leader then said, a nuclear drone is capable of moving at a depth of several hundred meters "at a speed that is a multiple of the speed of submarines, the most modern torpedoes and all types of surface ships."

In addition, the device is characterized by low noise and high maneuverability.

According to the president, he is "virtually invulnerable."

“In December 2017, a long-term cycle of testing an innovative nuclear power plant to equip this autonomous uninhabited vehicle was fully completed.

The nuclear installation has a uniquely small size and, at the same time, an ultra-high power-to-weight ratio.

With a volume 100 times smaller than that of the installations of modern nuclear submarines, it has more power and 200 times less time to enter combat mode, that is, to maximum power, ”Putin said.

He stressed that such drones can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear weapons, which will allow them to hit a variety of targets, including aircraft carrier groups, coastal fortifications and infrastructure.

Earlier, the media reported that the Belgorod submarine of project 09852 would become the first experimental Poseidon carrier.

In April 2021, the TASS agency, citing sources, reported that after the completion of state tests and transfer to the Navy, Belgorod would serve in the Pacific Ocean.

"A number of strategic advantages"

It is worth noting that the appearance in Russia of such weapons as the Poseidon did not go unnoticed by the military expert community in the West.

Thus, the American military-political magazine The National Interest published several materials on this weapon and the Belgorod submarine.

In one of the publications entitled "Russia is building submarines capable of provoking a" radioactive tsunami ", the publication describes the potential destructive power of the Poseidon."

  • Russia is building submarines capable of triggering a "radioactive tsunami"

  • © The National Interest

Poseidon is an unmanned nuclear submarine carrying a 2 megaton nuclear charge.

Instead of directly hitting the target, an underwater explosion is produced, causing a radioactive tsunami that can destroy coastal cities and other infrastructure several kilometers inland, ”emphasizes The National Interest.

The publication notes that "Poseidon" has a number of strategic advantages over the more familiar intercontinental ballistic missiles.

“While an air-launched missile is either stationary or flying towards its target, the Poseidon can stay off the enemy coast for several weeks in preparation for a coordinated strike.

The Russian military believes that Poseidon is capable of moving too fast and too deep (namely, at a speed of 200 km / h at a depth of up to 1 km) for American coastal defense systems to intercept it, ”write the authors of The National Interest.

Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, also noted the obvious advantages of such weapons in the RT commentary.

“This is a means of strategic nuclear deterrence.

Moreover, today potential opponents do not have the tools to somehow stop the Poseidon strike.

This is an absolute weapon, and, of course, this is a warning that if there is any encroachment on the interests of Russia, then it will end with only one blow, ”the expert noted.

Korotchenko doubts that technologies for intercepting the Poseidon may appear in the foreseeable future.

In turn, military expert Yuri Knutov noted that the appearance of a submarine with such a deterrent in Russia would allow the Russian Federation "to feel an order of magnitude more confident in the current international situation."

“The emergence of a system like Poseidon will cool many hotheads in the US and NATO.

The synchronized launch of several "Poseidons" can lead to the formation of a tsunami that will cover the most important naval bases of a potential enemy.

The Poseidon devices should force Washington and Brussels to behave in a civilized manner and seek a common language with Russia.

Do not escalate the conflict, but on the contrary, try to find ways to defuse, ”Knutov said in a conversation with RT.

  • Underwater nuclear drone "Poseidon"

  • © Russian Ministry of Defense

The appearance of Poseidon in Russia brings a new tool to the marine component of the nuclear triad, which gives the Russian Federation a significant advantage over other countries, the analyst believes.

“This type of destruction of the enemy’s arsenal provides a significant advantage, because one Poseidon torpedo is enough to destroy an aircraft carrier strike group or disable some large naval base.

This weapon is not a first strike, but a retaliatory strike, so there is no need to chase quantity here, it is important to have enough funds to hit enemy targets with a 100% guarantee, ”concluded Knutov.