Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System
The Status-6, also known as Kanyon, is a purported nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed unmanned underwater vehicle developed or being developed by the Russian Federation. It would supposedly be able to deliver a thermonuclear cobalt bomb of up to 100 megatonnes against enemy's naval ports and coastal cities. "Kanyon" is the name given this drone by the Central Intelligence Agency.[1][2]
This weapon is designed to create a tsunami wave up to 500 m tall that will radioactively contaminate a wide area on an enemy coasts with cobalt-60, and to be immune to anti-missile defense systems such as anti-ballistic missiles, laser weapons and railguns that might disable an ICBM or a SLBM.[3][4][5][6][7] Two potential carrier submarines, the Project 09852 Oscar-class submarine Belgorod, and the Project 09851 Yasen-class submarine Khabarovsk, are new boats laid down in 2012 and 2014 respectively.[8][5][9][10] Status 6 appears to be a deterrent weapon of last resort.[7][9][10] It appears to be a torpedo-shaped robotic mini-submarine, that can travel at speeds of 185 km/h (100 kn).[7][9][11] More recent information suggests a top speed of 100 km/h (54 kn), with a range of 10,000 km (6,200 mi) and a depth maximum of 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[12] This underwater drone is cloaked by stealth technology to elude acoustic tracking devices.[3][9]
Oscar-class submarines can carry four System-6 torpedos at the same time for total yield of 400 megatonnes.
The first public report about the Kanyon was in September 2015 and cited Pentagon sources.[13] On November 10, the Russian television station NTV "accidentally" showed a document in the hand of a Russian general during a report in which Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced American plans concerning defensive missiles. There was debate afterwards about whether this was a warning to the West or disinformation.[1]
A Pentagon draft Nuclear Posture Review report leaked in January 2018 stated that the Status-6 was under development.[14][15]
References
- ^ a b "CIA: Leak of Nuclear-Armed Drone Sub Was Intentional". The Washington Free Beacon. Nov 19, 2015. Archived from the original on Nov 20, 2015.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Pentagon Confirms Existence of Russian Doomsday Torpedo". Popular Mechanics. 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
- ^ a b Why A Russian Super-Radioactive Atomic Torpedo Isn't The News You Think It Is [1]
- ^ "What Is The Purpose Of Russia's Deadly Status-6 Torpedo". ValueWalk. 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ^ a b Russian Mystery Submarine Likely Deployment Vehicle for New Nuclear Torpedo. USNI News. [2]
- ^ "What Is The Purpose Of Russia's Deadly Status-6 Torpedo". 8 December 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Steven Pifer S. Russia's perhaps-not-real super torpedo. Brookings Institution. November 18, 2015 [3]
- ^ Diplomat, Franz-Stefan Gady, The. "Revealed: Russia's Top Secret Nuclear Torpedo". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d Oliphant R. Secret Russian radioactive doomsday torpedo leaked on television. Telegraph. 13 Nov 2015 [4]
- ^ a b 'Assured unacceptable damage': Russian TV accidentally leaks secret 'nuclear torpedo' design — RT News [5]
- ^ Lockie, Alex (24 December 2016). "Trump questions the US's nuclear arsenal: Here's how the US's nukes compare to Russia's". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Pentagon Confirms Russia's Thermonuclear Submarine Bomb Is Real". 8 December 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Russia Building Nuclear-Armed Drone Submarine". The Washington Free Beacon. Sep 8, 2015. Archived from the original on Nov 20, 2015.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Russia has underwater nuclear drones, newly leaked Pentagon documents reveal". 14 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Farley, Robert. "Russia's Status-6: The Ultimate Nuclear Weapon or an Old Idea That Won't Die?". The National Interest. Retrieved 21 January 2018.