US commanders have always been concerned by Russian submarines. Russia has built one the largest undersea ships in the world, and also demonstrated its ability attack inland targets with cruise missiles. This is a worrying development for US military leaders as they fear that these submarines may challenge their influence across the globe.
A new russian submarine is expected to enter service this year. It will be capable of carrying nuclear-capable torpedoes, according to Russia's state media.
It will be called Belgorod and will be used in the conflict in Ukraine. It is claimed to be one of the largest submarines ever built. The submarine can also hold a variety small-submarines. It also has a special compartment for launching "apocalyptic" drones, which will be used to sabotage enemy subs and infrastructure.
Although it is not yet known where the submarine is located, it may be in the Baltic Sea. This area has been the subject of Russian naval strikes on the Nord Stream pipelines. The new submarine would make it easier for Moscow to sabotage the pipelines, and it may also be able to deliver a nuclear strike.
Although there are no details on the submarine's capabilities other than that it can carry a Poseidon, this would be a dangerous addition to the Russian navy. Only the Velikiye Liki and St. Petersburg class Russian submarines can carry nuclear torpedoes. Both of these classes were subject to financial and construction problems.
Russia has continued to work on modernizing its nuclear submarines since 1991, when it was annexed to the Soviet Union. Russia has rebuilt its submarine fleet, upgraded weaponry, and created new types of stealthier and better-equipped submarines. These changes, along with improved nuclear weapons capability, have bolstered Russia's military capabilities and raised its threat levels.
Putin has vowed to intimidate the West in the war in Ukraine by using its nukes, and now it looks like he's taking steps to do so. New video footage has been released of a Russian nuke submarine, which shows its reactor operating.
The video was posted by Zvezda (a Russian Ministry of Defense-run TV station). It is the first time a crew has been allowed to film the reactor, and the footage was screened on a show called 'Military Acceptance' yesterday.
Russia's nuclear submarines are incredibly vulnerable to attack, as was shown in 1998 when a suicide bomber boarded an Akula-class submarine at the Northern Fleet base in Gadzhiyevo and blew himself up. Eight sailors were also killed in 2001 when a terrorist tried to detonate a bomb using a Russian sub in the Atlantic Ocean.
These are just some of the many dangers Russia's nuclear submarines pose. US commanders have been particularly worried about Russia’s Severodvinsk Class submarines. They are more than a decade old and rapidly expanding their global presence. These submarines are "on the same level" as the United States's Ohio class ballistic and guided missile submarines, according to General Glen VanHerck of US Air Force, director of US Northern Command, and NORAD.