Commentary
Russia’s Poseidon torpedo, also known by NATO as Status-6 or Kanyon, represents a paradigm shift in strategic nuclear weaponry. Unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, this intercontinental, nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed autonomous underwater vehicle is designed to bypass traditional missile defenses and deliver catastrophic destruction to coastal targets. As such, the Poseidon poses a significant new challenge to any country that it targets. And with a range of thousands of miles, and an ability to navigate to its target autonomously at depths of more than 3,000 feet, there are no known counters for it.
