Russia has successfully tested the Poseidon, a nuclear-powered underwater drone designed to deliver a nuclear warhead capable of generating radioactive tsunamis against coastal targets, according to an announcement by President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
The test, which took place Tuesday in the Arctic Ocean, marked the first full launch of the Poseidon from a carrier submarine, during which the drone’s nuclear propulsion system was activated for sustained operation. Putin hailed the test as a “huge success,” emphasizing the weapon’s “unrivaled advantages,” including speeds of up to 200 km/h, the ability to operate at extreme depths, and a range exceeding 10,000 kilometers.
The Poseidon’s existence first came to light in 2015 after Russian state television inadvertently filmed a classified slide during a defense briefing with Putin. Moscow formally confirmed the program in 2018, roughly 18 months after the drone’s first reported test in November 2016.
This week’s test follows another major milestone in Russia’s strategic weapons program: the launch of the Burevestnik intercontinental cruise missile, tested last week. The missile reportedly flew autonomously for over 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) across a 15-hour period, demonstrating extended flight endurance.
While U.S. President Donald Trump publicly dismissed the Burevestnik test, both developments underscore Russia’s growing nuclear and strategic capabilities. Analysts in Washington and NATO capitals have described the tests as clear signals of Moscow’s continued investment in next-generation nuclear delivery systems.
The timing of these advancements has further fueled concern about the future of arms control. The New START Treaty, the last remaining Cold War–era nuclear arms agreement between the United States and Russia, is set to expire in February. The Trump administration has so far shown little interest in pursuing an extension, raising fears that global nuclear limits could revert to pre–Cold War conditions with an unrestricted arms race between the 2 nuclear superpowers.