The Russian Navy will launch special purpose nuclear submarine Khabarovsk (Project 09851) at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia in April-May, a Russian defense industry source told RIA Novosti.
“[Submarine] Khabarovsk is planned to be launched in the spring, in April-May. Trials will last at least two years,” the source said.
The submarine will become a designated carrier of the Poseidon nuclear-capable underwater drones.
In April 2019, Russia launched Belgorod nuclear-powered research submarine (Project 09852). It became the first experimental submarine to carry Poseidon underwater drones.
Artist impression of Project 09852 Belgorod. Image via covert shores.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the fact of development of Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drones during the address to the Federal Assembly in 2018.
According to the Russian president, the drones can “move at great depths … intercontinentally, at a speed multiple times higher than the speed of submarines, cutting-edge torpedoes and all kinds of surface vessels.”
