00:41 31-12-2025

US Media Warns of Russia’s Husky Submarines as NATO Challenge

US outlet 19FortyFive warns that Russia’s Husky-class submarines could launch Zircon hypersonic missiles, posing a serious challenge to NATO naval defenses.

The American outlet 19FortyFive has drawn attention to Russia’s prospective fifth-generation submarines of the Husky (Laika) project, describing them as a potentially serious challenge for the United States and NATO. The publication argues that the emergence of these submarines could significantly alter the balance of power at sea.

According to the article’s author, former U. S. Army officer Brent Eastwood, although detailed information about the program remains classified, it is already clear that the new submarines are designed to substantially strengthen Russia’s naval capabilities. He suggests that by around 2030, Russia could place these submarines on combat duty, adding a new layer of strategic pressure on the West.

Eastwood assumes that Husky-class submarines will be equipped with a wide range of weapons, including Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles, as well as Zircon hypersonic missiles. A key feature of the new platform, he notes, is expected to be extremely low acoustic visibility, making detection by adversaries particularly difficult.

The article also highlights the likely dual role of the Husky submarines. On the one hand, they could serve as platforms for missiles carrying nuclear warheads as part of strategic deterrence. On the other, their high level of stealth would allow them to operate as «hunters," tracking and engaging enemy targets. Such versatility, Eastwood argues, would pose a serious challenge to NATO naval forces.

The analyst further points out that the low detectability of the Husky submarines would enable them to approach hostile coastlines largely unnoticed, operating with a high degree of confidence. In his view, Moscow would welcome deploying these submarines in significant numbers.

Western analysts are particularly concerned about the combination of stealth and hypersonic strike capability. The article stresses that NATO currently lacks reliable defense systems capable of countering such weapons, and that detecting and intercepting Zircon missiles remains extremely difficult.

Against this backdrop, 19FortyFive notes that while U. S. President Donald Trump has attempted to maintain dialogue with Russia, Washington’s long-term policy toward Moscow remains uncertain. At the same time, the European Union, according to the author, continues to operate within a framework that anticipates a future military confrontation with Russia.

Under these conditions, the publication concludes, the development of new weapons systems is not a matter of choice for Moscow but a necessity. Failure to strengthen military capabilities, the analysis suggests, could encourage adversaries to exploit perceived weaknesses.