Overview
- Vladimir Putin announced a successful Poseidon underwater drone test, saying it was launched from a submarine and operated on its nuclear power unit for the first time.
- Putin claimed the system cannot be intercepted and said its destructive power surpasses the Sarmat intercontinental missile, describing unmatched speed and operating depth.
- The Russian leader said Poseidon’s reactor is much smaller than submarine reactors, echoing similar claims he made about the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile.
- Days earlier, Gen. Valery Gerasimov reported a Burevestnik flight of about 14,000 km over roughly 15 hours, presented as proof of long-endurance, evasive capability.
- U.S. and NATO officials have not verified the Poseidon trial, as Moscow highlights the tests alongside recent nuclear drills and sharper rhetoric over the war in Ukraine.