Russia is reportedly developing and testing underwater nuclear drones.
The nuclear torpedos could reportedly set off tidal waves to destroy coastal areas.
The jury is still out on a new #Russia|n strategic nuclear #torpedo/#AUV, the #Status6 #Kanyon, and its potential host #submarines, Pr.20120 Sarov SS testbed and Pr.09851 Khabarovsk SSN. But @CovertShores does a nice job unraveling the latest #OSINT. See:https://t.co/kK6k8eXKWF pic.twitter.com/uyoUcgh8gd
— Strategy Matters 🦅 (@MT_Consult) February 13, 2018
Defense News reported:
A draft of the Pentagon’s Nuclear Posture Review confirms the existence of an underwater nuclear drone made and operated by Russia, a capability the U.S. Defense Department had not previously publicly acknowledged.
“In addition to modernizing ‘legacy’ Soviet nuclear systems, Russia is developing and deploying new nuclear warheads and launchers,” stated an unclassified draft of the nuclear posture review first published by the Huffington Post.
“These efforts include multiple upgrades for every leg of the Russian nuclear triad of strategic bombers, sea-based missiles and land-based missiles. Russia is also developing at least two new intercontinental range systems, a hypersonic glide vehicle and a new intercontinental, nuclear-armed undersea autonomous torpedo.”
A chart laying out Russian nuclear delivery vehicles developed over the past decade spells out the capability yet again, including a small illustration for an “AUV,” or autonomous underwater vehicle, called Status-6.
The black and white graphic posted by the Huffington Post makes it difficult to see whether the capability has been deployed. However, the Russian undersea drone — which is nicknamed “Kanyon” by the Pentagon and goes by the full name Ocean Multipurpose System Status-6 — has been tested at least once.
