Russia’s test of a nuclear-powered torpedo capable of carrying an atomic warhead 100 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb failed after suffering technical difficulties, US intelligence officials believe.
The Poseidon torpedo, which President Putin unveiled in 2018 as an “innovative new weapon”, was due to have been tested from the 30,000-ton Russian submarine Belgorod, in the Arctic.
However, the Belgorod, which at 178 metres is the longest submarine in the world, has returned to port at Severomorsk, the Russian Northern Fleet base, without any evidence of the Poseidon test having taken place.
The technical failure, first reported by CNN quoting US intelligence officials, is a significant blow for Moscow as the Poseidon was touted as an “unstoppable” doomsday weapon system with an unlimited range.
The failure could be another sign of the Russian military suffering challenging times because of international sanctions, which have barred Moscow from acquiring western technology.
There was always scepticism in the West over the feasibility of a submarine-launched torpedo being powered by a nuclear reactor.
Fitting a miniaturised nuclear reactor to a torpedo was viewed as being a technological challenge too far, although the Pentagon is developing small reactors to provide power for forward-deployed special forces units.
In recent weeks the US has begun monitoring Russian naval vessels gathering in the Arctic for an expected test of the Poseidon. The Belgorod submarine, which can carry up to eight of the nuclear torpedoes, was spotted among them.
The planned test of the Poseidon coincided with increasing fears that Putin might order the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine following persistent setbacks suffered by the Russian military.
Moscow has boasted that the Poseidon can deliver a nuclear warhead to a coastal target such as a submarine base, evading all defence systems.
The torpedo is 21m long and 2m wide. It was designed to travel at up to 80mph underwater, carrying a two-megaton (2,000 kilotons) nuclear warhead. The Hiroshima bomb was about 16 kilotons.
The nuclear torpedo is expected to enter service around 2027, although if the technical difficulties persist that could be delayed.
