Unique New Russian Strategic Submarine Khabarovsk with Nuclear-Powered Torpedos Goes to Sea for the First Time

The Russian Navy has begun factory sea trials of the Khabarovsk, a nuclear-powered submarine designed specifically to carry the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone. The vessel entered the water on August 17, marking its first time underway since construction began in 2014. The submarine is being built by Sevmash in Severodvinsk and is expected to join Russia’s Pacific Fleet after completing trials. Khabarovsk was floated out of its construction hall in November 2025, and remains approximately six years behind schedule, which  reflects both its complexity and entirely unique design, as well as shortcomings in Russia’s industrial base.

The Khabarovsk is equipped with six launch tubes for the Poseidon, an autonomous nuclear-powered underwater vehicle intended to provide Russia with an additional strategic nuclear delivery system capable of operating beneath the ocean rather than following the ballistic trajectory of conventional intercontinental missiles. Its reported range is approximately 10,000 kilometres, although several more ambitious performance claims surrounding the system have been made. he system was among six strategic weapons publicly unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 as part of Russia's effort to develop nuclear capabilities capable of circumventing emerging missile-defence systems. 

The Khabarovsk appears to incorporate substantial design heritage from Russia's Borei-A ballistic-missile submarines. Photographs released following its float-out showed similarities in the stern, propulsion arrangement and rudders, suggesting that Russia has drawn upon an existing nuclear-submarine design base rather than developing an entirely new propulsion architecture for the vessel. The two have highly complementary roles, with the Borei class designed to integrate RSM-56 intercontinental range ballistic missiles, while the Khabarovsk class uses nuclear-tipped torpedos to bypass missile defences entirely, targeting enemy costs with radioactive tsunamis.

While the Khabarovsk is the first ship of its class, a heavily modified Soviet Oscar class attack submarine, Belgorod, previously entered service in July 2022 to test operations of nuclear torpedo carriers and provide such a capability at an earlier date. The Belgorod carries four Poseidon launch tubes, whereas Khabarovsk carries six, with the newer ship benefitting from propulsion and quieting systems that are several decades ahead in terms of sophistication. It is expected that at least four Khabarovsk class submarines will be brought into service, in parallel to the rapid expansion of the Borei class ballistic missile submarine fleet.