Russia Showcases Nuclear Torpedo

The Russian Ministry of Defense has recently released video of a nuclear-powered missile by the name of “Poseidon” that is specifically designed to avoid U.S defenses. Unlike a prototypical nuclear weapon, this missile is designed with an emphasis on the radioactive waste created as a byproduct of nuclear weaponry. This weapon has been designed to utilize this radioactive waste to punish enemies and make large sums of land uninhabitable for decades. According to Stephen Schwartz, author of “Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of U.S Nuclear Weapons Since 1940”, these types of explosions “suck up dirt, or water, and contaminates it with debris from the bomb and then lofted into the atmosphere, leaving deadly radioactive fallout potentially strewn across thousands of miles.”

Additionally, it has been suggested but not confirmed that the nuclear core of the Poseidon missile is coated with metal, which Schwartz claims could prolong nuclear fall out for more than half a century. In addition, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Foundation of American Scientists Hans Kristensen doubled down on the concerns Schwartz has expressed regarding this “doomsday” torpedo, citing its potentially massive power and Russia’s cruel intentions: “It’s an insane weapon in the sense that it’s probably as indiscriminate and lethal as you can make a nuclear weapon. Kristensen says that reports claim this warhead could yield up to 100 megatons, which would make this one of the most destructive weapons ever created. The supposed goal of Russia in using this missile, Kristensen states is: “Going in and blowing up a harbor with the purpose of blanketing a coastal area with radiation to make it uninhabitable” in a “blatant violation on the international laws of war, which require them to avoid collateral damage.”

In addition to attacking shorelines, the video released by Russian officials shows another proposed use of the weapon. The video displays the missile being used to attack aircraft carriers and their surrounding attack squads. With its current infrastructure and military technologies, the United States is not equipped to deal with such a high-speed nuclear missile. However, it is unclear how tangible this threat actually is. This is not the first that the world has heard of this high powered missile. Analysis from H.I Sutton shows that the Russians have been working on developing a submarine suitable to hold the “Poseidon” missile as far back as 2010. This indicates that testing and development has been underway for quite a long time. Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense previously leaked images of the weapon in 2015.

These leaked images along with the recently leaked video have been discussed further after a speech made by Putin on March the 1st. In this speech, Putin boasted about both Poseidon and various other weapons that are all specifically designed to penetrate and eliminate the United States’ missile defenses. While this declaration is intrinsically concerning for Americans concerned for their own well being, it is necessary to assess the facts regarding both Putin’s track record and the details of the recent video. First, Putin has a documented history of building up the reputation of the Russian military and the arsenal it possesses at its disposal. He has a history of posturing in order to elicit a sense of confidence from the Russian people and to intimidate those who oppose him on the world stage. When analyzing the video, the missile wielding submarine is only shown in the setting of a lab, and then later transitions to a computer-generated simulation designed to showcase the proposed capabilities of the weapon. Also, the weapon shows an ability to steer itself in water, but fails to show an ability to propel itself.