Russia has launched the first nuclear submarine of Project 09851, named Khabarovsk, during a ceremony held at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. The event was led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, along with executives from the United Shipbuilding Corporation.
The submarine was developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Khabarovsk is equipped with modern and robotic systems, designed to “effectively defend Russia’s maritime borders and ensure the security of its interests in the world’s oceans.”
According to specialized sources, the Khabarovsk is designed to carry the Poseidon nuclear torpedo, a nuclear-powered, long-range weapon capable of operating underwater for extended periods. This torpedo is considered one of the core components of Russia’s new strategic deterrence system. It is estimated that the submarine can carry up to six of these weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated that the country had conducted its first long-range test of the Poseidon torpedo from a submarine. “For the first time, we managed not only to launch it with a launch engine from a carrier submarine, but also to launch the nuclear power unit on which this device passed a certain amount of time,” he said.
The Khabarovsk’s design is partially based on the Borei-class hull, which helps reduce costs and improve acoustic stealth. However, the new submarine is smaller, with an estimated surface displacement of around 10,000 tons, compared to approximately 15,000 tons for the Borei class. Its structure removes the ballistic missile compartment, adapting it to house the Poseidon torpedoes.
The Khabarovsk is the second Russian submarine capable of carrying this type of weapon, following the Belgorod of Project 09852, commissioned in 2022. Unlike the Belgorod, which is a conversion of an Oscar II-class submarine, the Khabarovsk was designed from the ground up to operate with Poseidon torpedoes.
The launch of the new submarine marks progress in Russia’s naval modernization program, aimed at strengthening its strategic deterrence capability at sea. Reports indicate that two or three additional Project 09851 submarines are planned to join the Northern and Pacific Fleets.
During his visit to Severodvinsk, Belousov also toured the Zvezdochka naval repair center, where he oversaw work on strategic missile carriers and nuclear submarines. He also chaired a meeting on the construction and modernization of warships and attended the presentation of the new ice-class patrol ship Ivan Papanin, recently commissioned into the Russian Navy after completing trials in Arctic conditions.
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