There are currently eleven Poseidon test flight. But, many questions remain about the weapon. According to Pentagon, it has a payload of around two megatons. It could wipe out a major American city in 30 seconds. Poseidon is believed to also be capable of carrying both conventional munitions as well as nuclear warheads. This means Poseidon will be able to perform a variety different functions.
Six Poseidon torpedoes can be carried by a submarine. The submarine can travel up to 80 miles an hour on the ground and up to 70 mph in water. It can travel to depths up to 3,280ft. It is believed to have a titanium hull that will withstand pressure at these depths.
The Poseidon could measure approximately 1.6 m in diameter and 24 meter long. It would have twice the size as a traditional submarine. It is also believed that it can travel over 90 km/h. This is double the speed of conventional submarines. In addition, it is believed to be able to travel at virtually any distance across the world.
The Poseidon torpedo does have its limitations. It may be too slow to deliver a retaliatory strike on a coastal city. It may also be difficult to spot. Additionally, Poseidon's nuclear propulsion system may malfunction and pose a risk to the submarine. It is possible that Poseidon’s nuclear propulsion systems could be radioactive. Despite these concerns, the Poseidon torpedo could potentially deliver a nuclear blast, flooding coastal cities with radioactive water.
You can see Poseidon-sized weapons on satellite images of Russian Arctic. But, Russia is unlikely to test the weapon at all in the near future. It is more likely that Russia will test it in the near future, perhaps within a few years. In order to test the weapon, Russian ships need to travel in the Arctic waters before the sea freezes over in winter.
While the Poseidon is still theoretically in development, experts have expressed doubts about the weapon. According to an analyst at Greenpeace, there are several issues that should be addressed. Specifically, if the torpedo is unarmed, it may have an extremely limited application. Additionally, Russia should invest more money in training for command and control.
If it is successful, the Poseidon will be able to destroy strike groups and aircraft carriers. It could also attack submerged infrastructure and target coastal cities. This could prove to be a devastating weapon, particularly for NATO's largest power projection assets. The specially modified Oscar submarines that were designed to carry the Poseidon will be used to transport it to the target. Russia will likely need to build a large carrier for the Poseidon, according to some reports. This could take several years, depending on the type and size of the carrier.
According to a US official the Russians seem to have difficulty testing Poseidon. The US Navy has been working on countermeasures that will protect against Poseidon. Poseidon sensors can be detected and destroyed by sensor-mines.