Russia’s Khabarovsk nuclear-powered submarine has started its first factory sea trials in the White Sea. This is a key milestone for Moscow’s Poseidon strategic weapon program. The Project 09851 submarine left the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk to test its propulsion, steering, diving, hull strength, and onboard systems, Interesting Engineering reports.
The trials will determine whether the submarine is ready to progress toward state acceptance and eventual deployment. Khabarovsk was built specifically to carry Poseidon, unlike the larger Belgorod, which was converted from an unfinished Soviet-era Oscar II submarine.
Its stern and pump-jet propulsion arrangement reportedly resembles Russia’s Project 955A Borei-A ballistic missile submarines. The forward section, however, was redesigned around the oversized strategic weapons.
