Khabarovsk submarine launch reflects Russia’s nuclear modernisation progress
Khabarovsk’s primary armament will be Poseidon torpedoes. (Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence)
The nuclear-powered vessel, which could carry the Poseidon autonomous torpedo – dubbed the “doomsday missile” – marks another step forward in Russia’s maritime defence push.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced the launch of its Khabarovsk special-purpose nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed submarine at its Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. The vessel belongs to a class of submarines designed to deploy the Poseidon, an uncrewed, underwater system developed in Russia.
As the relationship between the US and Russia remains strained, with both countries investing heavily in the development of modernised platforms and advanced technology in the undersea defence sector, the Khabarovsk launch reflects an important advancement for Russian capabilities.
The country has been characteristically secretive on both its Khabarovsk submarine development, which has faced significant delays, and
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Euronaval 2026: Red Cat’s Blue Ops follows USV demand from Asia to the Andes]()
Euronaval 2026: Red Cat’s Blue Ops follows USV demand from Asia to the Andes
With its B-26 USV in full-rate production, Blue Ops is seeking to turn overseas interest into orders through a combination of lower operating costs, UAV integration and local manufacturing.
-
![Euronaval 2026: Baltic breakthrough powers Saildrone’s next European expansion]()
Euronaval 2026: Baltic breakthrough powers Saildrone’s next European expansion
Denmark’s doubled deployment, Mediterranean smuggling routes and Norwegian composite hulls show where uncrewed surveillance demand is heading, while British funding remains unclear.
-
![From Chokepoints to the Deep: ASELSAN’s Naval Vision at EURONAVAL]()
From Chokepoints to the Deep: ASELSAN’s Naval Vision at EURONAVAL
From deployable ship defence to autonomous sea and underwater vehicles, ASELSAN is preparing for a new era of naval security.
-
![Euronaval 2026: by the power of six, Fincantieri’s MMMV reflects modular naval shift]()
Euronaval 2026: by the power of six, Fincantieri’s MMMV reflects modular naval shift
The 50m, six-person ship from the Italian shipbuilder carries swappable, containerised payloads instead of a fixed mission, reflecting a shift that is becoming increasingly evident.
