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First submarine carrying unmanned vehicles Poseidon to be launched in spring

Poseidon is undergoing successful tests, the president stressed

Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle Russian Defense Ministry press service/TASS

Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle

© Russian Defense Ministry press service/TASS

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. The first nuclear-powered submarine armed with unmanned underwater vehicles Poseidon will be launched in the spring of 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Federal Assembly on Wednesday.

He said that the vehicle having an unlimited range was undergoing successful tests.

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"In this connection I would like to make one important remark. Nothing has been said about this so far, but it is possible to do so today. In the spring of this year the first nuclear powered submarine armed with this unmanned vehicle will be launched. The work is proceeding in accordance with the schedule," Putin said.

A source in the defense-industrial complex told TASS earlier the unmanned underwater vehicles Poseidon would be provided for the Russian Navy under the current 2018-2027 program for armaments. They will be used to arm a new generation nuclear powered submarine being built at the Sevmash shipyards. At the moment Sevmash is building at least two special submarines: project 949A The Belgorod, expected to carry unmanned and manned deep diving research apparatuses and a special purpose submarine called The Khabarovsk. According to unconfirmed reports, this project 09851 submarine will be able to carry various deep diving vehicles and a new weapon system.

Another source told TASS the underwater tests of a nuclear power plant had confirmed the unmanned vehicle Poseidon would have an unlimited range and a maximum speed of more than 200 kilometers per hour.

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