Russia building a doomsday drone submarine, says Pentagon

Underwater Torpedo. Source: Shutterstock/Legion media

Underwater Torpedo. Source: Shutterstock/Legion media

Shutterstock/Legion Media
Warship could be used to attack harbors and strategic bases.

Russia is building a drone submarine designed to launch nuclear weapons against U.S. harbors and coastal cities, according to Pentagon officials, writes the The Washington Post.

The warship may be used in the event of a nuclear conflict between Russia and the U.S. for attacking American harbors and strategic bases with submarines, writes the publication. The Pentagon has code-named the drone “Kanyon,” an indication that the weapon is a structured Russian arms program.

“This is an unmanned sub that will have a high-speed and long-distance capability,” said one official, who noted that the drone development is years away from a prototype and testing.

According to the sources, the submarine is to be armed with a nuclear warhead ranging in size to “tens” of megatons, one megaton alone having a destructive power dozens of times that of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs.

In the summer of 2014 Head of the Russian Navy Admiral Viktor Chirkov said that the integration of potential robotic systems into the fleet is "envisaged by the rearmament plans."

The corresponding developments were included in Russia’s State Armament Program until 2020. Moreover, the Defense Ministry is carrying out the "Creation of Potential Military Robotics until 2025" program and is developing the concept of using robotic systems for the period until 2030.

First published in Mir Robotov.

 

More U.S.-Russia stories in your box!

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

Accept cookies