Russian military expert Alexey Leonkov has said the Poseidon underwater vehicle cannot be intercepted because it combines high speed with the ability to operate at extreme depths.

Leonkov, editor of the Arsenal Otechestva magazine, told NEWS.ru that Poseidon carries a thermonuclear warhead and belongs to the category of retaliatory weapons. Its targets include naval bases, carrier strike formations and aircraft carrier groups.

According to the expert, the vehicle can remain underwater for an unlimited period and travel at a depth of around one kilometer or more. Its speed may reach approximately 200 kilometers per hour. Leonkov argued that no existing weapon or anti-torpedo system is capable of intercepting Poseidon under such conditions.

He said the vehicle is intended for use in a launch-on-warning retaliatory strike after Russia deploys the strategic arsenal of its intercontinental ballistic missiles. One of Poseidon’s principal missions, in his assessment, is to render the coastline of a potential or designated adversary uninhabitable.

Leonkov also maintained that the Russian system has no direct equivalents. China has come closer than any other country to developing a similar platform, he said, pointing to underwater drones displayed in Tiananmen Square last year. However, he claimed that their range and operating depth remain inferior to Poseidon’s capabilities.

The expert added that Poseidon is designed exclusively for high-intensity conflicts or a global military confrontation, which he described as a third world war.