The delivery ceremony for the new nuclear submarine of project 09852, known as Belgorod, to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet occurred recently on July 8. Earlier, on April 23, 2021, the submarine’s commander, Captain 1st Degree Anton Alekhin, broke a ceremonial bottle at Sevmash in Severodvinsk to mark the occasion.
Media interest centered on Belgorod’s potential role as the first carrier of Poseidon nuclear-armed underwater drones, with open sources noting that the ship is expected to carry six to eight such devices. Analysts have highlighted the Poseidon system as a weapon designed to strike coastal economic infrastructure of an adversary and to create large zones of radioactive contamination, as well as to generate a tsunami-like effect and other severe consequences following a nuclear detonation. This assessment was reported by Gazeta.ru citing a military expert.
The presence of underwater drones aboard Belgorod is viewed as expanding the Russian fleet’s offensive capabilities. Reports from CNN, drawing on the U.S. Congressional Research Service, have suggested Belgorod could intensify strategic tensions between Moscow and Washington and potentially influence a new phase of the Cold War. Retired Rear Admiral Valery Litvinov commented that Belgorod and Poseidon could alter military strategy significantly, noting that no effective countermeasures against Poseidon exist at present. He pointed out that while a nuclear missile can be intercepted, an unmanned underwater drone cannot be neutralized as easily, and that future countermeasures might emerge. The evolving maritime contest could shift the focus of strategic competition to the ocean depths, rather than air and land domains.
Belgorod originated as a modified project 949A Antey multipurpose submarine. Its construction began in 1992, followed by decommissioning and mothballing in 1994. In 2012, the Navy announced plans to complete Belgorod under a special project. During reconstruction, the submarine’s length increased from 154 meters to 184 meters, and discussions at that time did not yet include Poseidon as its primary payload. Early projections suggested Belgorod would carry deep-sea vehicles for non-weapon applications or autonomous deep-sea stations rather than be a dedicated Poseidon carrier. In the end, Belgorod was transformed to serve as a platform for new undersea capabilities, with its hull adapted to accommodate a variety of mission equipment.
Two additional rows of missiles were repositioned along the hull, outside the main exterior envelope, replacing certain weapon bays that were previously considered for other systems. Despite those changes, contemporary assessments emphasize that the principal armament is expected to be Poseidon unmanned underwater weapons. Military observers have noted that key tests reached a significant milestone, with top officials expressing confidence in the readiness of Poseidon for deployment within a broader system, even if not yet integrated into every possible set. The broader project has seen continuous development since the early 2010s, and the precise operational purpose of Belgorod has been the subject of substantial debate among experts and foreign observers.
Experts have observed that the appearance of Belgorod with extended capabilities startled observers abroad, particularly in the United States, where attention has focused on Russia’s strategic undersea assets. Analysts have noted that the discovery of a submarine with substantial combat potential and an unclear mission can provoke speculation about future military postures. In the United States, attention has also turned to ongoing efforts to develop an unmanned submarine fleet, with discussions about new programs and funding dedicated to undersea drone development. An example cited in public discourse is a planned initiative commonly referred to as Snake Head, with substantial preliminary funding allocated to explore its feasibility. These developments reflect a broader interest in advancing undersea capabilities that could reshape strategic balance in maritime domains.