Submarine activity in Russia does not consist solely of coastal waters near the country; instead, they are often found at large distances, sometimes appearing in far-flung areas. This extensiveness in their reach is a strategic capability in itself, making any disappearance of any submarine, such as Belgorod, less surprising and yet very concerning. The Northern Fleet, probably the most significant part of Russia’s Navy, bases its nuclear sea forces in the Arctic, right under the nose of NATO. This closeness demands close monitoring, especially in light of increased submarine activity in these waters to levels not seen since the Cold War.
Much attention these days has been focused on the Belgorod, a Borei-class submarine. Its armament includes six Poseidon nuclear weapons, a nuclear-power deep-diving midget submarine designed for seabed warfare, a rescue submarine, and regular torpedoes. If not referred to as the “doomsday” weapon, Poseidon is the biggest torpedo in the world that could inflict catastrophic damage on coastal cities. It’s slow but inevitable, independent of satellites, and able to evade missile defenses.
Within weeks, in early October 2022, speculation emerged linking Belgorod to the Nordstream 1 and 2 pipeline incidents. Expert analysis of its movements reveals that Belgorod was observed in the Barents Sea during the last days of September, so it could not have been present in the Baltic at the time of the attacks. This is illustrative of how the Belgorod has not vanished, contrary to some claims in the media. However, with its strategic value considered, it will not be moored for too long, much to the interest of European navies seeking to build submarine fleets in response to the perceived threat.
With a rumored Poseidon weapon on board, its vanishing from its Arctic harbor has alarmed NATO. Reports indicate Russia is preparing to test the Poseidon system, a nuclear-armed drone in development capable of generating a “radioactive tsunami.” A device detonated off a coastline facing a coastal city could create a wave as high as 1,600 feet, decimating the targeted area while irradiating it. Delivered to the Russian Navy in July, the Belgorod forms part of President Vladimir Putin’s secretive program for developing new classes of “super weapons.”
According to strategic intelligence expert Rebekah Koffler, the Poseidon would only be used in an absolute-last-case scenario for direct conflict between Russia and the U.S. She underlined that although the device would probably not work until 2027, the testing is a form of intimidation against NATO allies. She indicated that the submarines also have stealth capabilities; previous Russian submarines had worked along the shores of the United States undetected.
The Poseidon torpedo, after being first reported by the Russian news agency TASS in January 2023, is designed to devastate coastal cities with radioactive floods. Equipped with an atomic reactor that is small enough to enable unprecedented speed, huge distances, and considerable depths, it carries a nuclear warhead with an explosive yield potentially as vast as 100 megatons, dwarfing even the most powerful nuclear weapons tested so far.
While speculations abound on the Poseidon as a propaganda instrument, experts unanimously agree on the fact that the system is not an illusion but exists and has received substantial investment from the Russian armed forces. Intelligence reports state that numerous trials are scheduled to be conducted for the Poseidon while submarines have been specifically modified to carry their enormous size and weight. At least four submarines are planned to be armed by the Russian Navy with a minimum of 30 Poseidon torpedoes.
Its development thus reflects the evolution of Russia’s approach toward nuclear deterrence, very much in response to U.S. ballistic missile defense improvement. The Poseidon system, according to Russian officials, is intended to bypass missile defenses and conduct nuclear attacks against aircraft carrier groups and coasts. This illuminates some important aspects of Russia’s broader nuclear strategy, which places an extraordinary premium on nuclear coercion and signaling as a means of compelling compliance with its strategic aims.
One can easily imagine that, with Poseidon in play, some strategists might run into problems regarding strategic stability. The development of artificial intelligence and autonomous platforms allows human hands to slip further from the trigger, which means that there is an augmenting chance of misjudgment and inadvertent escalation. While some experts point out that Poseidon will not change much in strategic nuclear balance, it is hard not to count the impact of the weapon on psychology or atomic signaling functions.
The Belgorod and its Poseidon torpedoes spell an enormous change in modern warfare, a synthesis of high technology with strategic deterrence. At a time when countries are groping to work out the implications of such developments, arms control, and risk reduction talks assume more importance than ever.