Russian torpedo status 6. Media: Russia tested a giant nuclear torpedo

Footage of a promising development of the Russian military-industrial complex - the ocean-going multi-purpose system "Status-6" - blew up the Internet. The existence of the Status-6 system became known at a meeting between Vladimir Putin and security officials on defense issues.

About the fact that Russia has developed Ocean multipurpose system "Status-6", it became known from reports of two television channels - Channel One and NTV - from a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin on defense topics on November 9, 2015.

Over the past week, Vladimir Putin has been holding a series of meetings in Sochi with representatives of the defense department and chief designers of enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. Their goal is to discuss the state of the industry, the implementation of state defense orders, and also to compare plans with real life, with exercises that have been conducted recently, and to assess the work to strengthen the country’s security.

One of these meetings made the Status-6 system public.

In their stories, Russian TV channels showed data from a secret system, which is an underwater projectile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead - highly maneuverable and deep-sea, which is able to destroy the coast of a potential enemy. Of course, everyone has figured out perfectly whose coast, if something happens, will be the main target for “Status-6”.

Let us note right away: if anyone is looking for a video of missile tests or other footage of this weapon, let them not waste time. There are no such frames. Some performance characteristics of Status-6 were exposed.

The "leakage" (intentional or involuntary) occurred due to Colonel General A.V. Kartapolov- Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It was from behind him that the journalists took down the drawings of Status-6, which allowed them to judge the purpose of this combat system, designed for a guaranteed retaliatory strike against the enemy.

In the footage below from the meeting between Putin and the security forces you can see this “Status-6” that excited everyone.

As Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov subsequently stated, an unpredictable leak occurred during Putin’s meeting with the security forces and assured that “the authorities will take measures to ensure that such a situation does not happen again.”

As can be seen from the released footage, the developer of the system is OJSC TsKB MT Rubin. This is one of the leading Soviet and Russian enterprises in the field of designing submarines, both diesel-electric and nuclear, for example, the Borei SSBN.

The purpose of the system is “to destroy important enemy economic facilities in the coastal area and cause guaranteed unacceptable damage to the country’s territory by creating zones of extensive radioactive contamination that are unsuitable for carrying out military, economic and other activities in these zones for a long time.”

Two nuclear submarines are depicted as possible carriers: a special-purpose nuclear submarine under construction "Belgorod"- an unfinished cruiser of the Antey class, relaid on December 20, 2012 according to special project 09852. And the second is a special-purpose submarine laid down on July 27, 2014 at Sevmash "Khabarovsk" project 09851.

After demonstrating footage of the Status-6 system, many immediately remembered that quite recently the American publication The Washington Free Beacon reported that Russia was creating an “underwater drone” codenamed “Canyon” capable of carrying nuclear weapons with a yield of tens of megatons and threaten US ports and coastal cities.

Then, in September, naval analyst Norman Polmar suggested that the Canyon system was based on the Soviet T-15 linear nuclear torpedo with a capacity of 100 megatons (the idea of ​​Academician Sakharov), which was designed in the 50s precisely for striking on coastal facilities in the United States.

Russia has something to respond to the US missile defense system even without Status-6

In accordance with the activity plan of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation, the share of modern weapons will be increased to 100% by 2020.

The President of Russia emphasized that the creation of a modern army, equipped with the latest weapons and military equipment, remains one of the priorities of military development.

This does not mean that Russia intends to be drawn into an arms race. “We simply need to make up for lost time at the turn of the 1990s - 2000s, when the armed forces, and the defense industry enterprises themselves, were chronically underfunded,” Putin said.

In particular, the president noted that Russia will develop strike systems capable of penetrating any missile defense (BMD) systems. He recalled that the United States and its allies continue to build a global missile defense system.

“And neither our concerns nor proposals for cooperation, unfortunately, are taken into account,” he stated.

Putin emphasized that the true goal of the US missile defense system is to neutralize the nuclear potential of the Russian Federation.

The head of the Russian state stated that over the past three years, defense industry enterprises have created and successfully tested a number of promising weapons systems that are capable of solving combat missions in the context of a layered missile defense system.

How Russia will respond to US missile defense

Among the systems being developed by the Russian defense industry as a response to the deployment of the US missile defense system in Europe are: operational-tactical missile system (OTRK) "Iskander"(SS-26 Stone, according to NATO classification).

It is designed to destroy both small-sized and area targets in the rear of potential enemy troops. The complex consists of several types of vehicles, including a self-propelled launcher on an MZKT chassis, a transport-loading vehicle, a command and staff vehicle (CSV) and others.

The range of ammunition used includes the 9M723 single-stage solid-propellant missile with a firing range of up to 500 km. The missile can be equipped with both a conventional and cluster warhead.

In 2015, the Russian army will receive two brigade sets of Iskander tactical missile systems. The same number of OTRKs will enter service with the troops in 2016. In total, by the end of 2015 there should be seven such units in the RF Armed Forces.

In 2016, launch and flight development tests of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), intended to replace the R-36M2 Voevoda ICBM, will begin.

The characteristics incorporated into the development of a promising missile are superior to the previous generation, in particular, the payload of the Sarmat ICBM can reach 10 tons (for Voevoda missiles this figure is about 8.75 tons). The missile will be able to hit targets while flying along a route through both the North and South Poles.

Development of the Barguzin combat railway missile system (BZHRK) is underway in Russia.

The development stage of design documentation for it will be completed in mid-2016. It is expected that one composition of the BZHRK will be able to carry six RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles and will be equivalent to a regiment, and the Barguzin divisional set will have five regiments. The Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized that the creation of the BZHRK does not contradict Russia’s obligations under the START-3 treaty.

In total, in accordance with the activity plan of the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), the share of modern models of missile weapons of the troops will be increased to 100% by 2020.

The Russian Ministry of Defense accepted eight intercontinental ballistic missiles in the third quarter of 2015. Also adopted are 12 mobile launchers, 22 combat duty support vehicles, 3 engineering support and camouflage vehicles. The share of modern technology in the Strategic Missile Forces currently reaches 48%.

According to the draft federal budget for 2016, expenses under the “National Defense” section for the nuclear weapons complex in 2016 will be increased by almost 4 billion rubles. In 2015, the volume of financing under this item is more than 44.5 billion rubles, while in 2016 it is planned to spend more than 48.3 billion.

On November 27, Russian sailors successfully tested the unmanned nuclear submarine Status-6, capable of carrying a multi-megaton nuclear warhead. Washington Free Beacon columnist Bill Hertz reports. The special purpose submarine B-90 Sarov took part in the tests.

Bill Hertz calls Status-6 a revolutionary device. Since the designers of the USA and other technologically advanced countries of the world have not yet approached this idea.

Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis declined to comment on the test, saying: “We are closely monitoring the development of Russian undersea technology, but will not comment on this.” At the same time, the military department does not doubt the reality of the existence of “Status”; it was even assigned the NATO index - “Canyon”.

This weapon became known about a year ago, when during a televised meeting with Vladimir Putin there was a “leak of top-secret information,” which was undoubtedly planned. Thus, a signal was sent to American strategists that the new weapon was guaranteed to make a hole in the massive defense of the North American continent and cause destruction on a scale that exceeded the attack of several known intercontinental ballistic missiles. That is, this is not just an asymmetrical response to the treacherous construction of the European missile defense system, but a solution that repeatedly covers the missile defense system, NATO battalions in Poland and the Baltic states, and other potentially aggressive actions of Washington towards Russia.

The transcript by Western experts of the slide, “leaked” to two central Russian television channels, provided enough information to understand what the uninhabited underwater vehicle (UUV) “Status-6”, developed at the Rubin Central Design Bureau, is. The following words were read: “The purpose is to defeat important enemy economic facilities in the coastal area and cause guaranteed unacceptable damage to the country’s territory by creating zones of extensive radioactive contamination, unsuitable for carrying out military, economic and other activities in these zones for a long time.”

It must be said that a similar project existed in the early 60s. The T-15 torpedo was developed, which had a length of 24 meters and a weight of 40 tons. It was supposed to be equipped with a 100-megaton thermonuclear charge. But at that time there were no compact nuclear reactors for a power plant, and battery-powered electric motors ensured that the torpedo could only travel 30 kilometers.

But after half a century, the problem with the reactor was solved. At the same time, significant progress has occurred not only in nuclear energy, but also in electronic components, control systems, materials, and other components of torpedo weapons. In addition, the strategy and tactics of the Navy have changed. Therefore, the Status-6 NPA is a completely new development, having only a 100-megaton charge power in common with the T-15.

Moreover, the new development is not a torpedo, but an underwater robot that has elements of artificial intelligence and is capable of operating independently at a distance of several thousand kilometers from its carrier - a special-purpose submarine.

The technical parameters that are circulating in the public domain are, of course, not based on the top secret documents of the Rubin Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. They are the result of deciphering a slide from the Ministry of Defense that appeared on television, and an analysis by experts, both domestic and foreign, taking into account the scientific, technical and technological potential of the Russian military-industrial complex.

First of all, it is necessary to say not about the quantitative, but about the qualitative side of the warhead. In order to realize the goals set for “Status”, the warhead must have a cobalt section. This should lead to maximum and long-term radioactive contamination of a vast territory. It is estimated that with a wind speed of 26 km/h, the radioactive cloud will poison a rectangle of coast measuring 1700x300 km.

The Rubin device is capable of destroying naval bases, aircraft carrier strike groups, and ground air bases. All this has been experimentally tested by the Americans themselves. In 1946, the US Navy tested an underwater explosion with a yield of 23 kilotons. As a result, the completely new aircraft carrier Independence, launched in 1942, was lost. After four years of unsuccessful decontamination attempts, it was scuttled. But the Status warhead contains several orders of magnitude more radioactive cobalt fission products.

Presumably the speed of the UUV ranges from 100 km/h to 185 km/h. It is provided by water-jet propulsors powered by a reactor with a power of 8 MW. The reactor has a liquid metal coolant, which makes it possible to increase efficiency and also significantly reduce noise. What makes Status-6 practically invisible underwater. Among other things, the reactor has an excellent cost-to-power ratio. It can cost about 12 million dollars - for the production of effective deterrent weapons such costs are insignificant.

When analyzing the strength of the Status-6 hull, it was found that it has a working depth of 1000 meters. All of the above qualities indicate that UUVs are extremely difficult to detect even at maximum speed. For the SOSSUS hydroacoustic anti-submarine system, which monitors the US coast, the new device is much less noticeable than the world's quietest submarine, Varshavyanka. It is estimated that Status-6 at a cruising speed of 55 km/h can be detected no further than at a distance of 2-3 km. If detected, it will easily escape any NATO torpedo at maximum speed. In addition, the UUV, possessing intelligence, is capable of performing complex maneuvers.

Indeed, the chances of destroying Status-6 even if it is detected are minimal. The fastest US torpedo, the Mark 54, has a speed of 74 km/h, that is, according to minimal estimates, 26 km/h less. The deepest-sea European torpedo with the formidable name MU90 Hard Kill, launched in pursuit, at a maximum speed of 90 km/h is capable of traveling no more than 10 km.

When assessing the capabilities of “Status-6”, one should take into account the “intelligence” of this NPA. As a deterrent weapon, it can arrive at its destination and lie low, waiting for a signal to detonate the warhead. The signal can be sent through an ultra-long wave channel, since ultra-long waves penetrate the water column. In this case, we will have a deterrent weapon ready to work instantly. Without wasting time on approaching and “swimming”.

It can be assumed that the tasks of this system also include solving other problems. Using such a powerful platform, capable of acting independently for a long time, including making tactical decisions, Status-6 can also obtain invaluable intelligence information.

And finally, about the carriers of “Status-6”. The Project 20120 diesel-electric submarine Sarov, built in a single copy, is designed to test the latest deep-sea technology. Therefore, she is not a carrier. However, at Sevmash, in secrecy, two special-purpose boats are being built - Belgorod and Khabarovsk, which, judging by a number of indirect data, will serve Status-6. Presumably, they will be commissioned this decade.

Came to the television channels of two federal media at a meeting on the development of the defense industry in Sochi, which was held on November 9, 2015 Vladimir Putin. Let us recall that the president then said that Russia would develop strike systems capable of overcoming any missile defense systems.

"NTV" and "Channel One" showed stories (now deleted), where allegedly accidentally through the back, presumably Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov the concept and timing of the implementation of the development, which, in theory, is classified as “Top Secret”, namely the ocean multi-purpose system “Status-6”, was filmed.

As can be seen from the screenshot, its developer is OJSC Central Design Bureau MT Rubin. This is one of the leading Soviet and Russian enterprises in the field of designing submarines, both diesel-electric and nuclear, for example, the Borei SSBN.

Purpose of the system - “the defeat of important enemy economic facilities in the coastal area and causing guaranteed unacceptable damage to the country’s territory by creating zones of extensive radioactive contamination, unsuitable for carrying out military, economic and other activities in these zones for a long time”.

Two nuclear submarines are depicted as possible carriers: the special-purpose nuclear submarine Belgorod, which is under construction, is an unfinished Antey-class cruiser, relaid on December 20, 2012 under special project 09852, and also a special-purpose submarine laid down on July 27, 2014 at Sevmash. "Khabarovsk" project 09851.

First, we should talk about special-purpose submarines. “SP” has already written that on August 1, in Severodvinsk, a ceremony was held to remove the special-purpose nuclear submarine BS-64 “Podmoskovye” from the slipway of workshop No. 15. The submarine was converted from the K-64 missile carrier of Project 667BDRM into a boat designed to work with nuclear deep-sea stations (AGS) and uninhabited underwater vehicles in the interests of the top-secret Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) of the Russian Ministry of Defense. This boat still has to undergo mooring and then factory sea trials, after which the BS-64 Podmoskovye will replace the Orenburg boat in the fleet, which was also converted from a Project 667BDR missile carrier in 1996-2002.

During trips to sea for sea trials and state trials, the BS-64 will presumably interact with the AGS of the Sperm Whale, Halibut and Losharik projects. Or more precisely, to be the carrier (mother boat) of one or another “baby,” as the AGS is also called. The carrier secretly delivers a mini-submarine (AGS), which has a low speed, to the desired area, after which it disconnects it for autonomous operation.

"Orenburg" and AGS are part of the mysterious 29th separate brigade of submarines of the Northern Fleet, which performs tasks in the interests of the State Administration for Civil Aviation. For reference: until 1986, the “kids” were not included in the Navy, but were part of a General Staff unit associated with the GRU. Note also that former commander of the 29th brigade submarine of the Northern Fleet, Rear Admiral Vladimir Dronov and more than ten officers bear the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (read about what tasks can be performed by special-purpose nuclear submarines and AGS in the article "SP" - "Nuclear submarine "Podmoskovye": underwater reconnaissance submarine is preparing for the hunt") .

Now regarding the “Status-6” system. At the beginning of September this year, the American edition The Washington Free Beacon reported that Russia is allegedly creating an “underwater drone” codenamed “Canyon”, capable of carrying nuclear weapons with a yield of tens of megatons and threatening US ports and coastal cities.

Then naval analyst Norman Polmar suggested that the Canyon system is based on the Soviet T-15 linear nuclear torpedo with a yield of 100 megatons (idea Academician Sakharov), which was designed in the 50s specifically for striking coastal targets in the United States.

In his memoirs, Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov said the following about this: “One of the first people with whom I discussed this project was Rear Admiral Fomin... He was shocked by the “cannibalistic nature” of the project and noted in a conversation with me that sailors were accustomed to fighting an armed enemy in open battle and that the very thought of such a mass murder was disgusting to him.”

Interestingly, for regulatory reasons, as well as taking into account other factors, the T-15 torpedo was developed without the participation of the Navy. The Navy learned about it only through the project of the first nuclear submarine.

Let us note that at one time it was precisely for such a large torpedo that the first Soviet nuclear submarine of Project 627 was specially created, which was supposed to have not eight torpedo tubes, but one - with a caliber of 1.55 meters and a length of up to 23.5 meters. It was assumed that the T-15 would be able to approach the American naval base and with a super-powerful charge of several tens of megatons, destroy all living things. But then this idea was abandoned in favor of a submarine with eight torpedoes, which could solve a whole range of tasks. And as a result, Project 627A nuclear submarines were created.

Military historians claim that Soviet admirals, having familiarized themselves with the project in 1954, confidently declared that the submarine would certainly be destroyed on the approach to the American base. Moreover, the entrances to all American bases are covered many kilometers away by the winding shores of bays, islands, shoals, as well as booms and steel nets. They say that the T-15 torpedo cannot overcome such obstacles on the way to the object.

However, as “SP” said military expert and historian Alexander Shirokorad, in 1961, the T-15 idea was again revived at the suggestion of academician Andrei Sakharov.

“The fact is that in fact the tactics of using such a super-torpedo could have been completely different. The nuclear submarine was supposed to secretly fire a torpedo at a distance from the coast much greater than 40 km. Having used up all the energy of the batteries, the T-15 would lie on the ground, that is, it would become an intelligent bottom mine. The torpedo fuse could remain in the waiting mode for a long time for a signal from an aircraft or ship, through which the charge could be detonated. The point is that damage to naval bases, ports and other coastal facilities, including cities, would be caused by a powerful shock wave - a tsunami - caused by a nuclear explosion...

That is, based on the document leaked to the media, Russia decided to revive the idea of ​​Academician Sakharov?

Deputy Director of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis Alexander Khramchikhin I am convinced that such a scenario of an unplanned leak of information about developments classified as “Top Secret” in the media cannot exist in principle.

“There is no doubt that this is a deliberate hoax.” The goal is to make a known adversary think about his actions. But, to be honest, I highly doubt that the development under discussion will be implemented in hardware. That is, this leak is most likely pure misinformation. If only because no additional development is required to create “zones of extensive radioactive contamination.” Existing intercontinental missiles can already do this, the expert concludes.

Thus, the purpose of showing the document in front of cameras with a top-secret system is to frighten and puzzle Western “partners.”

However, if we assume that the development of such a system is really being carried out by the Rubin Central Design Bureau for MT? What does this mean?

Corresponding member of RARAN, captain 1st rank reserve Konstantin Sivkov

On November 27, Russian sailors successfully tested the unmanned nuclear submarine Status-6, capable of carrying a multi-megaton nuclear warhead. Washington Free Beacon columnist Bill Hertz reports. The special purpose submarine B-90 Sarov took part in the tests.

Hertz calls Status-6 a revolutionary device. Since the designers of the USA and other technologically advanced countries of the world have not yet approached this idea.

Pentagon Spokesperson Jeff Davis refused to comment on the information about the tests, saying: “We are closely monitoring the development of Russian underwater technologies, but we will not comment on this.” At the same time, the military department does not doubt the reality of the existence of “Status”; it was even assigned the NATO index - “Canyon”.

This weapon became known a year ago, when during a television broadcast of a meeting Vladimir Putin there was a “leak of top-secret information,” which was undoubtedly planned. Thus, a signal was sent to American strategists that the new weapon was capable of guaranteed to make a hole in the massive defense of the North American continent and cause destruction on a scale that exceeded the attack of several known intercontinental ballistic missiles. That is, this is not just an asymmetrical response to the treacherous construction of the European missile defense system, but a solution that repeatedly covers the missile defense system, NATO battalions in Poland and the Baltic states, and other potentially aggressive actions of Washington towards Russia.

The transcript by Western experts of the slide, “leaked” to two central Russian television channels, provided enough information to understand what the uninhabited underwater vehicle (UUV) “Status-6”, developed at the Rubin Central Design Bureau, is. The following words were read: “The purpose is to defeat important enemy economic facilities in the coastal area and cause guaranteed unacceptable damage to the country’s territory by creating zones of extensive radioactive contamination, unsuitable for carrying out military, economic and other activities in these zones for a long time.”

It must be said that a similar project existed in the early 60s. The T-15 torpedo was developed, which had a length of 24 meters and a weight of 40 tons. It was supposed to be equipped with a 100-megaton thermonuclear charge. But at that time there were no compact nuclear reactors for a power plant, and battery-powered electric motors ensured that the torpedo could only travel 30 kilometers.

But after half a century, the problem with the reactor was solved. At the same time, significant progress has occurred not only in nuclear energy, but also in electronic components, control systems, materials, and other components of torpedo weapons. In addition, the strategy and tactics of the Navy have changed. Therefore, the Status-6 NPA is a completely new development, having only a 100-megaton charge power in common with the T-15.

Moreover, the new development is not a torpedo, but an underwater robot that has elements of artificial intelligence and is capable of operating independently at a distance of several thousand kilometers from its carrier - a special-purpose submarine.

The technical parameters that are circulating in the public domain are, of course, not based on the top secret documents of the Rubin Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. They are the result of deciphering a slide from the Ministry of Defense that appeared on television, and an analysis by experts, both domestic and foreign, taking into account the scientific, technical and technological potential of the Russian military-industrial complex.

First of all, it is necessary to say not about the quantitative, but about the qualitative side of the warhead. In order to realize the goals set for “Status”, the warhead must have a cobalt section. This should lead to maximum and long-term radioactive contamination of a vast territory. It is estimated that with a wind speed of 26 km/h, the radioactive cloud will poison a rectangle of coast measuring 1700x300 km.

The Rubin device is capable of destroying naval bases, aircraft carrier strike groups, and ground air bases. All this has been experimentally tested by the Americans themselves. In 1946, the US Navy tested an underwater explosion with a yield of 23 kilotons. As a result, the completely new aircraft carrier Independence, launched in 1942, was lost. After four years of unsuccessful decontamination attempts, it was scuttled. But the Status warhead contains several orders of magnitude more radioactive cobalt fission products.

Presumably the speed of the UUV ranges from 100 km/h to 185 km/h. It is provided by water-jet propulsors powered by a reactor with a power of 8 MW. The reactor has a liquid metal coolant, which makes it possible to increase efficiency and also significantly reduce noise. What makes Status-6 practically invisible underwater. Among other things, the reactor has an excellent cost-to-power ratio. It can cost about 12 million dollars - for the production of an effective deterrent weapon such costs are insignificant.

When analyzing the strength of the Status-6 hull, it was found that it has a working depth of 1000 meters. All of the above qualities indicate that UUVs are extremely difficult to detect even at maximum speed. For the SOSSUS hydroacoustic anti-submarine system, which monitors the US coast, the new device is much less noticeable than the world's quietest submarine, Varshavyanka. It is estimated that Status-6 at a cruising speed of 55 km/h can be detected no further than at a distance of 2-3 km. If detected, it will easily escape any NATO torpedo at maximum speed. In addition, the UUV, possessing intelligence, is capable of performing complex maneuvers.

Indeed, the chances of destroying Status-6 even if it is detected are minimal. The fastest US torpedo, the Mark 54, has a speed of 74 km/h, that is, according to minimal estimates, 26 km/h less. The deepest-sea European torpedo with the formidable name MU90 Hard Kill, launched in pursuit, at a maximum speed of 90 km/h is capable of traveling no more than 10 km.

When assessing the capabilities of “Status-6”, one should take into account the “intelligence” of this NPA. As a deterrent weapon, it can arrive at its destination and lie low, waiting for a signal to detonate the warhead. The signal can be sent through an ultra-long wave channel, since ultra-long waves penetrate the water column. In this case, we will have a deterrent weapon ready to work instantly. Without wasting time on approaching and “swimming”.

It can be assumed that the tasks of this system also include solving other problems. Using such a powerful platform, capable of acting independently for a long time, including making tactical decisions, Status-6 can also obtain invaluable intelligence information.

And finally, about the carriers of “Status-6”. The Project 20120 diesel-electric submarine Sarov, built in a single copy, is designed to test the latest deep-sea technology. Therefore, she is not a carrier. However, at Sevmash, in secrecy, two special-purpose boats are being built - Belgorod and Khabarovsk, which, judging by a number of indirect data, will serve Status-6. Presumably, they will be commissioned this decade.