Russia tests Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater weapon, says Putin

On October 28, another promising system was tested – the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle equipped with a nuclear power unit. For the first time, we successfully launched it from a submarine by activating its booster engine, and then started the nuclear reactor, which propelled the apparatus for a certain duration.

This is a tremendous success, because in addition to all the advantages I have mentioned regarding Burevestnik, in this case as well, the design is exceptionally compact. Burevestnik’s reactor is a thousand times smaller than a nuclear submarine reactor, Poseidon’s is a hundred times smaller. Yet its power significantly exceeds that of even our most advanced intercontinental-range missile – the Sarmat.

No other system in the world matches Sarmat, which is not yet on combat duty – though it will be in the near future.

Poseidon, however, greatly exceeds Sarmat in power. Moreover, in terms of speed and operational depth, there is nothing comparable to this unmanned system in the world – and none is likely to appear in the near future – nor are there any means capable of intercepting it.