Poseidon: Russia's New Underwater Drone

Underwater trials of a power unit of Russia’s nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) Poseidon confirmed its previously declared unlimited range and maximum speed of over 200 kmph, according to a Russian defense industry source.

"During the at-sea trials of the unmanned vehicle’s power unit, the previously declared specifications of its unlimited range of use and speed of over 200 kmph were confirmed," the source said

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reported the end of the key stage of testing for the strategic unmanned underwater vehicle Poseidon. In late December last year a defense industry source said that the testing of the UUV’s nuclear power unit was underway at sea at the moment. The source noted that the reactor had been mounted on the hull of the operating vehicle.

Putin first said about the unmanned underwater vehicle with the nuclear power unit in his address to the Federal Assembly in March 2019. The president reported that these UUVs will be equipped with both conventional and nuclear payloads and will be able to destroy enemy infrastructural facilities, carrier groups and other targets.