Several months ago, the Russian leadership announced the existence of a new type of underwater weapon. In an atmosphere of the strictest secrecy, an unmanned underwater vehicle was developed, which later received the name Poseidon. The appearance of a special submarine made specialists and the public recall other projects of this kind, including the most daring ones. Comparison of old developments and new proposals of the domestic industry can be of great interest.
Reason for discussion
A few days ago, the topic of comparing different domestic models of underwater weapons was again raised in the press and discussions. This time, the impetus for the start of new discussions was an interview with the designer of torpedo complexes, academician Shamil Aliyev, published by RIA Novosti on June 25. The designer spoke about current trends and promising ideas, and also recalled one of the most famous domestic projects. In the context of the modern Poseidon project, he cited some data on an old development called the T-15.
Possible appearance of the Poseidon underwater vehicle. Still from the video from the RF Ministry of Defense
According to Sh. Aliyev, now there is a tendency to return to the ideas that were proposed in the past, but remained unrealized. In particular, the views of A. D. Sakharov on the prospects for torpedo armament. The academician recalled the project with the code T-15, which provided for the construction of super-heavy torpedoes with a nuclear warhead. With the help of such weapons, it was possible to attack large coastal targets of the enemy. However, the T-15 torpedo was never built. According to the designer, such an outcome was associated not with problems of the concept, but with a lack of funding.
It is worth recalling that over the past few years in the domestic and foreign press with enviable regularity there have been reports of allegedly existing Russian projects of special nuclear submarines, which are distinguished by their small dimensions and full automation. Each time, such messages were forced to recall the T-15 torpedo. The newest "Poseidon", announced in early March, also did not escape such a "fate." And so, after an interview with Sh. Aliyev, this question was raised again.
Indeed, specialists and amateurs have certain grounds to compare the old and new developments of the domestic industry. The T-15 and Poseidon have some technical and tactical features in common. However, there are also the most serious differences. Let's try to consider two projects and draw possible conclusions.
Product T-15
According to the available data, the development of a super-heavy torpedo with a special warhead began in the late forties of the last century. Nuclear physicist A. D. Sakharov. Several leading enterprises of the defense industry were involved in the elaboration of his proposal. For several years, a pre-sketch project of the torpedo itself and the carrier submarine for its use was prepared. Such a technique had to solve special problems, and therefore was distinguished by a non-trivial appearance.
Scheme of the project 627 submarine. The torpedo tube for the super-heavy T-15 is highlighted in red. Figure Zonwar.ru
Based on the results of preliminary study, the recommended appearance of the future torpedo was formed. The T-15 product was supposed to have a body of a traditional shape, but of outstanding dimensions. Its length reached 24-25 m, diameter - 1.5 m. The mass exceeded 40 tons. It was supposed to use a nuclear power plant, with which a straight-ahead torpedo could show a range of 50 km. An electric power plant with batteries, according to calculations, reduced the range to 30 km. The "ideal" version of the T-15 torpedo was supposed to carry a 100 Mt thermonuclear warhead. This made it possible to destroy large coastal objects both due to the damaging factors of the explosion itself, and with the help of a giant wave formed during the explosion.
The nuclear submarine of Project 627 was initially considered as the carrier of the future T-15. A special torpedo tube of outstanding dimensions was to be located in the bow of this ship. It was planned to install a pair of standard 533-mm self-defense vehicles next to it. At the same time, the layout of the bow compartments of the hull, containing the main weapon, sharply reduced the available ammunition.
In 1954, the preliminary design of the T-15 and an early version of the documentation for the submarine "627" were studied by the command of the Soviet fleet, and it ordered to stop work. The proposed armament complex had too many problems, and therefore was not of interest to the military. In addition, as A. D. Sakharov, Admiral P. F. Fomin described him as cannibalistic.
The technologies of that time did not allow creating a compact nuclear reactor, and therefore the T-15 could only be equipped with electric motors and batteries. At the same time, the cruising range turned out to be insufficient, because of which the carrier submarine would have to enter the zone of action of the coastal defense before launching. There were also problems with the development of the required warhead of the highest power. The new nuclear submarine at the time of firing risked simply capsizing and sinking. Finally, the potential customer questioned the real fighting qualities of the new weapon.
Shipping container with Poseidon. Still from the video from the RF Ministry of Defense
Based on the results of studying the proposed documentation, the command of the USSR Navy ordered to stop the development of the T-15 nuclear torpedo project. They did not abandon the project 627 submarine, but changed the terms of reference. Now she was supposed to be the carrier of the "traditional" torpedo armament. In 1958-1964, the navy received 13 ships of this type, and they made a significant contribution to the defense.
Poseidon Project
In March 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the existence of a promising unmanned underwater vehicle with a nuclear power plant. Later this project was named "Poseidon". Some of the technical features of the project were announced, and in addition, the public was shown video footage from the manufacturer's workshop and an animated video showing the combat operation of the product.
In the demo video, two devices of an unremarkable appearance were shown. Both had a cylindrical hull with a hemispherical head fairing and aft, equipped with rudders and propellers. It was argued that there is a compact nuclear power plant on board the Poseidon, capable of providing an almost unlimited cruising range. At the same time, the new system is about 100 times more compact than traditional reactors of domestic nuclear submarines, and in addition, it develops maximum power 200 times faster.
The Poseidon submersible is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. He can stealthily go into the area of a moving or stationary target and attack it. In a demo video, one underwater drone destroyed enemy ships and another blew up an entire port. Thus, the new complex, first of all, is intended for the destruction of large targets in various points of the World Ocean and its coast.
Allegedly an accidental leak of information about the "Status-6" project. Frame from the reportage of the First Channel
It is worth recalling that the first reports of the development of such weapons appeared several years ago. In the fall of 2015, domestic TV channels allegedly accidentally showed a poster describing a secret project with the code "Status-6". As it became known in March this year, this information leak was not accidental; it was specially planned and implemented. By now, the version has become widespread, according to which the names "Poseidon" and "Status-6" refer to the same domestic development.
According to 2015 data, the "Status-6" product was developed at the Rubin Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg). The goal of the project was to create weapons capable of striking enemy coastal targets, as well as creating areas of radioactive contamination in the coastal zone, excluding their use. It was proposed to deliver the device "Status-6" to the launch line using specially converted nuclear submarines.
"Status-6" was supposed to have a "torpedo" body with a diameter of 1, 6 m and a length of more than 20 m. It was proposed to equip the device with a special warhead of large dimensions and corresponding power. With the help of a nuclear power plant, it could reach a speed of at least 180 km / h and show a cruising range of up to 10 thousand km. According to the poster, in 2018, the industry was supposed to complete the design, testing and development were scheduled for 2019-2025. In the second half of the twenties, new weapons could enter the arsenals.
As it turned out, information about the "Status-6" project was leaked into the public domain for a reason. In this regard, it cannot be ruled out that the Russian military and industry have made an attempt to misinform a potential enemy, and therefore the data from the poster may not correspond to the characteristics that can be obtained using modern technologies. In addition, there is still some doubt that the names "Status-6" and "Poseidon" really refer to the same project.
"Poseidon" attacks the enemy's naval group. Still from the video from the RF Ministry of Defense
In his March speech, V. Putin did not indicate the current stage of the new project, but noted that at the end of last year, a promising small-sized nuclear power plant successfully completed tests. Apparently, this allows the work to continue, and tests of a full-fledged prototype of the new Poseidon may begin in the near future.
Similarities and differences
In a recent interview, academician Sh. Aliyev spoke about the Poseidon project as the development of the ideas of the T-15 torpedo at a new technological level. Some of the available data on these developments allow us to believe that such a definition, in general, corresponds to reality. However, a more detailed examination of the new development shows that it differs from its predecessor not only in technological excellence, but also in certain of its consequences.
According to available data, the T-15 and Poseidon are similar in size and likely to have the same targets. Both products are designed for covert delivery of the most powerful warhead to a sea or coastal target. However, the new underwater vehicle has the most serious advantage over the torpedo of the past. The T-15 product was an upright torpedo with a limited cruising range - no more than 50 km in the most advanced configuration. And for Poseidon, a new compact reactor was developed, allowing it to travel thousands of kilometers. Thus, the new weapon can hardly be classified as a torpedo - it looks more like a small autonomous submarine.
Earlier it was announced that "Poseidon" is capable of carrying a wide variety of combat loads. According to 2015 data, it should be a large and powerful thermonuclear warhead. However, it has now become known that other products may be present on board the underwater drone. In particular, it is capable of carrying torpedoes of one type or another. The ability to use different warheads or separate weapons makes Poseidon a good tool for solving a wide range of combat missions.
The submarine approaches the target port. Still from the video from the RF Ministry of Defense
Thus, at the level of the general concept, the newest underwater unmanned vehicle is indeed somewhat similar to the old T-15 torpedo. Poseidon, like her, can carry out attacks on coastal targets and inflict the most serious damage on them, both through the explosion of the warhead, and with the help of the high wave generated at the same time. However, this is where the similarities end, and all the observed differences are associated with the technical and technological superiority of the new project.
One of the main technical problems of the old T-15 project was the impossibility of creating a compact and powerful enough nuclear power plant. Without such a system, the torpedo could not go even the desired 50 km, not to mention long ranges. In addition, the control systems of that time were not perfect, which, however, was not a big problem, given the presence of a 100-megaton warhead. Nevertheless, it was technical problems that became the decisive factor that led to the halt of work and the refusal of an interesting proposal.
After several decades, Russian science and technology finally managed to realize the most daring ideas necessary for the construction of weapons like the T-15. At the same time, progress in other areas has made it possible to obtain completely new opportunities and in the most serious way increase the potential of modern development. Poseidon, equipped with modern units, will be able to develop a uniquely high speed and deliver a warhead at a record range. Depending on the tasks assigned, it will be able to work as a super-powerful torpedo or as a carrier of naval weapons.
It is no secret that the progress of recent decades has made possible the emergence of outstanding projects and the most daring results. One of the manifestations of this was the real possibility of revising and improving old ideas, at one time rejected for objective reasons. From this point of view, the new project "Poseidon" or "Status-6" can really look like a further development of the old idea of the T-15 torpedo.
However, this time science and technology allowed not only to work out the concept, but also to find ways for its practical implementation. Moreover, with the receipt of the most serious advantages over past developments. After significant revision, the concept moved from the category of impossible and useless to the category of real and promising.
