Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System

On 10 November 2015, a page of a document that contained information about a secret "oceanic multi-purpose system" called "Status-6" was "accidentally" revealed by Russian NTV television channel. The leak happened during Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech denouncing American plans concerning "defensive" missile technology.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34797252|title=Russia reveals giant nuclear torpedo in state TV 'leak'|website=bbc.com|date=12 November 2015|access-date=24 February 2019}} The CIA has claimed the leak was intentional.

According to the Pentagon, Russia conducted the first test-launch of Poseidon on 27 November 2016, using the B-90 Sarov special purpose submarine. The test was reportedly carried out in the Arctic Ocean.{{Cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2016/12/did-russia-test-doomsday-weapon-arctic-waters|title=Did Russia test doomsday weapon in Arctic waters?|website=The Independent Barents Observer}}[https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a19160734/how-russias-new-doomsday-torpedo-works/ Pentagon Confirms Russia Has a Submarine Nuke Delivery Drone] Popular Mechanics. By Kyle Mizokami, Dec 8, 2016.

In early 2018, the Pentagon's Nuclear Posture Review publicly acknowledged development of Russia's "new intercontinental, nuclear armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous torpedo".{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/russia-drones-nuclear-weapons-pentagon-leak-781075|title=Russia has underwater nuclear drones, newly leaked Pentagon documents reveal|website=Newsweek|date=14 January 2018|access-date=21 January 2018 |quote=Russia is also developing at least two new intercontinental range systems, a hypersonic glide vehicle and a new intercontinental, nuclear-armed undersea autonomous torpedo.}}{{cite news|title=US says Russia 'developing' undersea nuclear-armed torpedo|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/02/politics/pentagon-nuclear-posture-review-russian-drone/index.html|access-date=8 February 2018|work=CNN|date=2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a15227656/pentagon-document-confirms-existence-of-russian-doomsday-torpedo/|title=Pentagon Confirms Existence of Russian Doomsday Torpedo|date=2018-01-16|work=Popular Mechanics|access-date=2018-01-21|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-status-6-the-ultimate-nuclear-weapon-or-old-idea-24139|title=Russia's Status-6: The Ultimate Nuclear Weapon or an Old Idea That Won't Die?|first=Robert|last=Farley|website=The National Interest|date=20 January 2018|access-date=21 January 2018}} The system was officially named "Poseidon", following a public vote in March of the same year.{{cite news|title=New Russian weapons named|url=http://www.janes.com/article/78819/new-russian-weapons-named|work=Jane's 360|date=23 March 2018|access-date=5 April 2018}}

By January 2019, the Russian Navy announced plans to procure at least 30 Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicles, deployed on four submarines, two of which would serve in the Russian Northern Fleet and two in the Pacific Fleet.{{Cite web|url=http://tass.com/defense/1039603|title=Russian Navy to put over 30 Poseidon strategic underwater drones on combat duty - source|website=TASS|language=ru|access-date=2019-03-24}} The following month, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the key stage of trials of the system had been completed.{{cite web |date=2 February 2019 |title=Key stage of Poseidon underwater drone trials completed, says Putin |url=http://tass.com/defense/1042975 |access-date=24 February 2019 |website=TASS}} This was followed by a video from the Russian Defence Ministry on 20 February, showing a Poseidon being test-launched by a B-90 Sarov special purpose submarine.{{cite news |date=20 February 2019 |title=The Latest: Russia releases video of new underwater drone |url=https://apnews.com/article/moscow-russia-ap-top-news-international-news-europe-fdfa6cd7de94484c9d5131e3d8f30817 |access-date=20 March 2022 |work=Associated Press}}

In early 2023 the first batch of the weapons had reportedly been manufactured, although some sources criticized the lack of an official confirmation or announcement from the Russian government.{{Cite web |title=First batch of nuclear-armed drones Poseidon manufactured for special-purpose sub Belgorod |url=https://tass.com/emergencies/1562553 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=TASS}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-03 |title=Russia to form special division of Poseidon torpedo carriers, TASS reports |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-form-special-division-poseidon-torpedo-carriers-tass-2023-04-03/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628160513/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-form-special-division-poseidon-torpedo-carriers-tass-2023-04-03/ |archive-date=2023-06-28 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Reuters}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-16 |title=Russia Produces First Poseidon Super Torpedoes – Report |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/01/16/military-source-claims-russia-has-completed-first-poseidon-super-torpedoes-a79959 |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}

File:Status-6_size.jpg

The Poseidon is intended to serve as response to U.S. withdrawal from the ABM treaty and to increase the Russian capability to overcome the U.S. missile defense systems,{{r|CRS1|page=25|quote=Like the Avangard and

Sarmat, this system, according to Russian statements, would also serve as a Russian response to concerns about the U.S. withdrawal from the ABM Treaty and U.S. advances in ballistic missile defenses.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2019/11/17/video-suggests-russias-poseidon-nuclear-powered-drone-has-a-seabed-launched-version/|title=Video Suggests Russia's Poseidon Nuclear-Powered Drone Has A Seabed-Launched Version|website=Forbes|date=17 November 2019|access-date=27 November 2019}}{{Cite web|url= http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/8/russian-drone-submarine-would-threaten-us-coast/ |title=Russian drone submarine would threaten U.S. coast; nuclear vessel in development | work =The Washington Times|access-date= 2015-11-12}} such as anti-ballistic missiles, etc.

The Poseidon warhead can contaminate a large area with radiation. For this purpose, the Poseidon is speculated to be equipped with a cobalt bomb.{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34797252|title=Russia reveals giant nuclear torpedo in state TV 'leak'|website= BBC |date=12 November 2015|access-date=24 February 2019}}{{Cite web|url= https://rg.ru/2015/11/12/bomb-site.html|title=Россия "засветила" новое супероружие|website=Российская газета|date=12 November 2015 |language=ru|access-date= 2019-03-24}} The Poseidon could be a radiological second strike weapon.Steven Pifer S. [http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/order-from-chaos/posts/2015/11/18-russias-perhaps-not-real-super-torpedo-pifer Russia's perhaps-not-real super torpedo]. Brookings Institution. November 18, 2015.

Normal (not salted) thermonuclear weapons cause radioactive fallout primarily through neutron activation of material at the detonation site. Unless the detonation happens at low depths in shallow waters, an underwater detonation will have its fallout greatly reduced, except for at the surface immediately above, near the base surge. Much of the radioactivity will be deposited in the sea, and be carried by ocean currents.{{cite book|first1=Samuel|last1=Glasstone|title=The Effects of Nuclear Weapons|year=1962|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ovu108BraNUC|pages=414, 467–469}} Water (and air) will not form radioisotopes suitable for radiological warfare when neutron activated, however the seawater-salt will, and the seabed may.

If used against an aircraft carrier battle group, the battle group would have reduced chances of defending itself against it. The drone could detonate its very large warhead at standoff range, and anti-submarine warfare units would have very little time to react because of the speed at which it travels.[https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a19160734/how-russias-new-doomsday-torpedo-works/ Pentagon Confirms Russia Has a Submarine Nuke Delivery Drone] Popular Mechanics. Kyle Mizokami, Dec 8, 2016.

The Poseidon appears to be a torpedo-shaped robotic mini-submarine which can travel at speeds of {{convert|185|km/h|knot|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tweet-us-nuclear-weapons-vs-russia-2016-12|title=Trump questions the US's nuclear arsenal: Here's how the US's nukes compare to Russia's|last=Lockie|first=Alex|date=24 December 2016|access-date=18 January 2018}} More recent information suggests a top speed of {{convert|100|km/h|knot|abbr=on}}, with a range of {{convert|10000|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} and a depth maximum of {{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a24216/pentagon-confirm-russia-submarine-nuke/|title=Pentagon Confirms Russia's Thermonuclear Submarine Bomb Is Real|date=8 December 2016|access-date=18 January 2018}}

Typical depth of the drone may be about {{convert|50|–|100|meters}} for increased stealth features in low-speed stealth mode. Low depth in stealth mode is preferred because sound waves move to ocean floor and reduce radius of detection. Submarines use the same strategy in silent running mode.

It is {{convert|1.6|-|2|metres|ft|0}} in diameter and {{convert|24|metres|-1}} long. The warhead shown in the leaked figure is a cylinder {{convert|1.5|metres|ft|0}} in diameter by {{convert|4|metres}} in length, giving a volume of {{convert|7|m3}}. Comparing this to the volumes of other large thermonuclear bombs, the 1961 Soviet-era Tsar Bomba itself measured {{convert|8|metres}} long by {{convert|2.1|metres}} in diameter, indicating that the yield is at least several tens of megatons, generally consistent with early reports of 100 megatons.{{cite web |url=https://navaltoday.com/2018/07/19/russia-releases-first-video-footage-of-new-kanyon-status-6-nuclear-torpedo/ |title=Russia releases first video footage of new Kanyon/Status-6 nuclear torpedo | Naval Today |date=19 July 2018 }}

Most likely, the high-strength body of the device is made of titanium alloys.

The National Interest compiled several unclassified defense sources from General Electric experts about the similar 601B project{{Cite book|title=APEX-910. APPLICATION STUDIES|last1=Commosar|first1=S|last2=CALVERT|last3=HILLMAN|last4=CHASE|last5=NASH|last6=NICOLL|last7=OSGOOD|last8=SEMPLE|last9=THOME|publisher=General Electric|year=1962|editor-last=CULVER|url=http://leehite.org/anp/documents.htm|pages=139}}{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/war-is-boring/this-nuclear-outboard-motor-was-a-really-terrible-idea-2966b898c5e9|title=This Nuclear Outboard Motor Was a Really Terrible Idea|last=Axe|first=David|date=2013-08-06|website=Medium|access-date=2019-03-24}}{{Cite web|url=http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=9286|title=601B project|website=up-ship.com|access-date=2019-03-26}} and they predicted low weight and compact gas-cooled nuclear reactor in the drone.{{Cite web|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-russias-status-6-torpedo-really-100-megaton-cruise-missile-25272|title=Why Russia's Status-6 Torpedo Is Really a 100-Megaton Cruise Missile|author=Steve Weintz|date=2018-07-07|publisher=The National Interest|language=en|access-date=2019-02-26}} Russian submarine designers say that a low-power reactor is preferred for Poseidon because a smaller reactor is less noisy.

File:Status-6 end.jpg

The development includes also use of stealth technology, to elude acoustic tracking devices.{{Cite web|access-date=2015-12-12|title=Есть ли в России современное гидроакустическое вооружение? - ВПК.name|date=25 April 2014 |url=http://vpk.name/news/109348_est_li_v_rossii_sovremennoe_gidroakusticheskoe_vooruzhenie.html|publisher=vpk.name}} Poseidon uses a silent running strategy like other submarines. Its main stealth feature is its very low speed before it reaches the target area. Its high-speed mode activates upon reaching a short finish range (2–3 kilometers), when the probability of detection of the drone is considerably higher. It could travel for weeks toward enemy port cities, reaching high-speed only in the final stage.

Russian designers estimated the radius of detection of the drone will be about {{convert|2-3|km|mi|abbr=on}} for {{convert|55|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|access-date=2015-12-12|title=О возможностях гидроакустического обнаружения суперторпед системы "Статус-6" - ВПК.name|date=10 December 2015 |url=http://vpk.name/news/145652_o_vozmozhnostyah_gidroakusticheskogo_obnaruzheniya_supertorped_sistemyi_status6.html|publisher=vpk.name}} A second important stealth feature of the drone is the special design of the pump-jet for clearance of the drone's acoustic signature to imitate the noise of civil ships.

A U.S. intelligence officer told CNBC that the Poseidon is difficult to detect and difficult to target in stealth mode.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/25/russias-nuclear-armed-underwater-drone-may-be-ready-for-war-in-2027.html|title=Russia's nuclear-armed underwater drone may be ready for war in 2027|last=Macias|first=Amanda|date=2019-03-25|website=www.cnbc.com|access-date=2019-03-26}}

Poseidon is a family of drones, some of which are designed only for destroying coastal cities and thus rely on "stealth" capabilities rather than on high speed, others of which are primarily designed to attack carrier battle groups and were claimed to possibly harness supercavitation, like the VA-111 Shkval torpedo, to attain extremely high speeds (higher than {{convert|195|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on}}) in attack mode.{{Cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5974747|title=Источник: стратегический подводный беспилотник "Посейдон" получит скорость более 200 км/ч|website=ТАСС|access-date=2019-03-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a25953089/russia-apocalypse-torpedo-poseidon/|title=Who's Afraid of Russia's Apocalypse Torpedo?|last=Hambling|first=David|date=2019-01-18|website=Popular Mechanics|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-24}} However, supercavitation devices have not been observed on the available footage of Poseidon.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hisutton.com/Poseidon_Torpedo_Supercavitation.html|title=H I Sutton - Covert Shores|website=www.hisutton.com|access-date=2019-03-24}} The Pentagon estimates maximum speed of the Poseidon to be about {{convert|56|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on}} without the supercavitation option.{{Cite web|url=https://thenewsrep.com/98207/pentagon-documents-confirm-russia-developing-nuclear-submersible-doomsday-weapon/|title=Pentagon documents confirm Russia is developing a nuclear submersible doomsday weapon|date=2018-01-18|website=NEWSREP|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-24}}

The two ships speculated to carry the Poseidon are the Project 09852 modified Oscar-class submarine Belgorod and the Project 09851 Khabarovsk submarines.Oliphant R. Secret Russian radioactive doomsday torpedo leaked on television. Telegraph. 13 November 2015 [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11991729/Secret-Russian-radioactive-doomsday-torpedo-leaked-on-television.html]{{cite news |url=https://www.defensenews.com/space/2018/01/12/russias-nuclear-underwater-drone-is-real-and-in-the-nuclear-posture-review/ |title=Russia's nuclear underwater drone is real and in the Nuclear Posture Review |last=Insinna |first=Valerie |publisher=Gannett |work=DefenseNews |date=12 January 2018 |access-date=3 February 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/11/revealed-russias-top-secret-nuclear-torpedo/ |title=Revealed: Russia's Top Secret Nuclear Torpedo |author=Franz-Stefan Gady |publisher=The Diplomat |access-date=18 January 2018}}Russian Mystery Submarine Likely Deployment Vehicle for New Nuclear Torpedo. USNI News. [https://news.usni.org/2015/12/04/russian-mystery-submarine-likely-deployment-vehicle-for-new-nuclear-torpedo] Oscar-class submarines could carry six Poseidon torpedoes at the same time for a total yield of up to 12-600 megatons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/03/russias-new-poseidon-super-weapon-what-you-need-to-know|title=Russia's New 'Poseidon' Super-Weapon: What You Need To Know|date=3 March 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2019/03/russias-most-secret-sub-soon-be-launched-terrifying-weapon|title = Russia's most secret sub soon to be launched with this terrifying weapon}}

According to some reports, Poseidon may have a seabed or mobile site launch option. In this configuration, known as Skif (Скиф) and patented by designer Alexander Shalnev,{{Cite web|url=https://vpk-news.ru/articles/26504|title=Глубочайшая тайна России {{!}} Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер"|website=vpk-news.ru|access-date=2019-03-24|archive-date=2015-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022509/http://vpk-news.ru/articles/26504|url-status=dead}} Poseidon can be staged on the sea floor in a special container as long as necessary. Russian auxiliary vessels Zvezdochka (Project 20180) and Akademik Aleksandrov (Project 20183), both of which feature ice-breaking capabilities, are involved in testing of Poseidon drones, indicating that these ships may be used as platforms for deploying and retrieving such a seabed version.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hisutton.com/Poseidon_Torpedo.html|title=H I Sutton - Covert Shores|website=www.hisutton.com|access-date=2019-03-24}}{{Cite news|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2020/09/military-research-ship-returns-after-months-secret-mission-arctic|title = Military research ship returns after months on secret Arctic mission| newspaper=The Independent Barents Observer }}

In 2022, Russian domestic TV said Poseidon will be able to "plunge Britain into the depths of the sea".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/03/ireland-condemns-russian-tv-for-nuclear-attack-simulation|work=The Guardian|title=Ireland condemns Russian TV for nuclear attack simulation|first1=Luke|last1=Harding|date=2022-05-03}}https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-61638389 from time 1:40 According to Russian claims, the Poseidon Torpedo may initiate a 500 m high shockwave.{{Cite news |last=Nellist |first=Tom |date=2019-05-11 |title=Russia's new NUCLEAR TORPEDO can create 500m radioactive tsunami |language=en |work=Express.co.uk |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1087925/russia-news-vladimir-putin-russia-war-military-nuclear-torpedo-poseidon-kanyon |access-date=2023-01-24}}

Various sources disregard these claims by pointing out the difference between a potential wave generated by the weapon and a naturally occurring tsunami. Large tsunamis are usually directed along one path, whereas an undersea explosion causes a wave to spread in 360°, which attenuates more rapidly with distance than a unidirectional wave does. As a comparison, the energy release that caused the 2011 Japan Tsunami was 163,000 times larger than Tsar Bomba, the upper estimate of Poseidon's possible power.{{Cite web |last=Mosher |first=Dave |title=A new Russian video may show a 'doomsday machine' able to trigger 300-foot tsunamis — but nuclear weapons experts question why you'd ever build one |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-doomsday-weapon-submarine-nuke-2018-4 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

Following the Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements during his presentation of several new Russian super-weapons{{cite web | url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18906/heres-the-six-super-weapons-putin-unveiled-during-fiery-address | title=Here's the Six Super Weapons Putin Unveiled During Fiery Address | date=March 2018 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/09/advanced-military-technology-russia/03-putins-super-weapons | title=03 Putin's 'super weapons' }} in March 2018, in which he specifically referenced the Poseidon as a weapon which could also target American port cities, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis stated Russia already had the potential capability of targeting certain port cities on the American coastline with missiles, and said thus Poseidon "does not change at all the strategic balance".{{cite news|title=Russia says it has successfully launched powerful new missile|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/11/russia-hypersonic-kinzhal-missile-launch|access-date=12 March 2018|work=the Guardian|date=11 March 2018|language=en}}

;{{RUS}}

• Russian Navy – more than 30 planned

{{Portal|Russia}}

• Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
• Avangard (hypersonic glide vehicle)
• 9M730 Burevestnik – a Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile
• Mutual assured destruction
• Nuclear torpedo
• K-329 Belgorod
• RS-28 Sarmat
• Tsunami bomb

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Category:Post–Cold War weapons of Russia

Category:Nuclear weapons of Russia

Category:Naval weapons of Russia

Category:Submarines of Russia

Category:Unmanned underwater vehicles

Poseidon