Russian ‘Nuclear Drone’ Submarine to be Launched This Fall
Khabarovsk was originally planned to have taken to the sea this May.
The Russian nuclear submarine, Khabarovsk, will be launched this fall after a delay of several months, TASS has reported.
Designed to carry the Poseidon underwater nuclear torpedo, Khabarovsk was originally planned to have taken to the sea this May, the Russian state-run news agency stated.
The outlet quoted an unnamed source as stating, “The launch of Khabarovsk has been delayed by several months – from May to autumn 2021.”
Similar to Borei Class of Submarines
Naval expert HI Sutton wrote in his blog that Khabarovsk is similar to but smaller than the Borei class of submarines which are being operated by the Russian navy.
Sutton estimated the length of Khabarovsk as 120 meters (394 feet) with a displacement of 10,000 tons.
In comparison, the Borei is 160 meters (525 feet) long with a displacement of 13,000 tons, Sutton added.
Four More Khabarovsks to be Commissioned
Khabarovsk was the second submarine, the other being Belgorod, earmarked for the role of carrying Poseidons.
The Belgorod, which is also a nuclear vessel, was launched on April 23, 2019, with a planned induction into the Pacific Fleet in September of this year.
Both the submarines are purpose-built to carry six Poseidon drones each. Four more Khabarovsk class submarines are slated to be commissioned over the next several years, beginning with Ulyanovsk in 2027.
