MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. A first batch of Poseidon nuclear-capable underwater drones for the Project 09852 special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine Belgorod has been manufactured, a source close to the Russian military and defense industry told TASS on Monday.

"The first batch of Poseidon ammunition has been manufactured and will be soon delivered to special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine Belgorod," the source said.

According to the source, various trials of core components of Poseidon underwater drones, including the nuclear power unit, were reported to be successfully completed.

TASS has no official confirmation of this information yet.

Belgorod submarine

The Project 09852 special-purpose submarine Belgorod, the first carrier of Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drones, was floated out on April 23, 2019. The submarine was initially planned to be delivered to the Navy in 2020. According to available data, its delivery was delayed as the program of its trials was not completed, which was also due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The submarine is designed to address diverse research tasks, implement research and rescue operations and can carry deep-water rescue and autonomous unmanned submersible vehicles on its board.

Under Russia’s state armament program through 2027, shipbuilders will deliver three special-purpose nuclear-powered submarines to the Russian Navy.