Russia released the first video of its threatening "Poseidon"nuclear torpedo undergoing testing on Wednesday.
The weapon, first revealed by Russian state television four years ago, was officially unveiled during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state of the nation address in March 2018.
While delivering this year's address on Wednesday, Putin announced that "Poseidon," an intercontinental-range autonomous nuclear torpedo sometimes described as a drone, has been undergoing testing alongside the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile.
The nuclear torpedo was designed to attack carrier strike groups and shore installations. But the sheer explosive potential of the weapon, which reportedly ranges up to 100 megatons, would irratiate an ocean and a continent's coast for decades to devastating effect.
The video released Wednesday by the defense ministry is the first to show the weapon in action, even if only in what appears to be a testing pool. Previous videos showed the weapon in labs, using computer animation to present its capabilities.
It's unclear when the video was taken, but Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday that underwater tests of the new weapon have been completed, according to Russian media. Putin made the same announcement earlier this month.
Russia claims that the nuclear-powered Poseidon torpedo, which is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, will have an unlimited range and a maximum speed of 125 miles per hour.
"Unique characteristics of the Poseidon system will help the navy to successfully combat aircraft carriers and strike groups of a potential adversary in any oceanic theater of war and destroy shore infrastructure facilities," Adm. Igor Katasonov, chief analyst of the General Staff, previously explained .
Putin revealed Wednesday that Russia plans to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying the Poseidon torpedo this spring.
Tests of the Poseidon have reportedly been carried out by B-90 Sarov-class Project 20120 diesel-electric submarines. The weapon, also known as "Kanyon" and described by the 2018 US Nuclear Posture Review as a "new intercontinental, nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous torpedo," is expected to be delivered to the Russian navy in the late 2020s, according to The Diplomat.
The Russians are expected to deploy as many as nearly three dozen Poseidon torpedoes, Russian state media revealed last month.
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