Russia's boasting big moves on a couple of nuclear 'super weapons.' Another may be operational soon.

"The Kremlin announced in recent days that it has successfully tested two of its six experimental "super weapons" - a nuclear-powered cruise missile and torpedo - and said that another is expected to be operational soon. These new weapons are intended as second-strike capabilities, with the Poseidon torpedo as a survivable, unstoppable retaliatory doomsday deterrent and the Burevestnik missile as an untrackable, indefensible retaliatory strike platform. To what extent they live up to the Kremlin's hype is unclear."

"Russian leadership and senior officials have touted these weapons as powerful, unbeatable, and capable of bypassing enemy defenses. Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and deputy chair of the Security Council, warned on Wednesday that "the Poseidon can be considered a true doomsday weapon." While the recent tests are notable, weapons experts have raised questions about the combat capabilities and overall strategic value of these new systems, as well as the implications for arms control."

Russia announced successful tests of a nuclear-powered cruise missile (Burevestnik) and a nuclear-powered autonomous torpedo (Poseidon). The Kremlin presents these systems as second-strike platforms intended to be survivable and to bypass enemy defenses. Putin said the Poseidon was launched from a submarine using a boost motor and then activated its nuclear propulsion, with claimed speeds up to 125 mph. Dmitry Medvedev described the Poseidon as a "true doomsday weapon." Weapons experts questioned the combat capabilities and strategic value of the systems. The tests could complicate arms-control efforts as key US-Russian agreements are strained or defunct.

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