The Russian Navy’s Belgorod Submarine: Nuclear Deterrence and Clandestine Spy Platform? – The Russian Navy’s Belgorod nuclear-powered submarine is equipped with a smaller drone submarine for specialized underwater operations. But the Belgorod is also part of Moscow’s underwater nuclear deterrent, thanks to its Poseidon nuclear-tipped torpedos.
Belgorod: What You Need to Know About This Submarine
Oscar II Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Oscar-class Submarine from Russia.
The Belgorod, also known by its number K-329, is one of the largest submarines in service in any navy, second only to the Soviet-era Typhoon-class submarines. The Belgorod is even larger than the United States Navy’s largest Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. The Belgorod is both nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered. The submarine is in a unique niche within the Russian Navy—and made a bit of splash when it slipped out of the dockyard and into the water a few years ago.
“Belgorod is one of the least understood submarines currently being built. It was launched in April 2019 and started sea trials on June 25, 2021,” HI Sutton, a naval analyst, wrote at the time.
“It will be armed with the Poseidon strategic nuclear weapon and also perform secretive seabed warfare missions. In this latter role, it will be operated on behalf of the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI).” However, one of the key issues is It is unclear which role will take precedence.”
Clandestine Operations
Unlike the overwhelming majority of submarines in service in the navies of the world, the K-329 Belgorod can undertake two very different types of missions—one of which is not combat-related. The Belgorod can act, in essence, as a kind of mothership for a more miniature, attached submarine that is itself nuclear-powered as well.
One of that more diminutive submarine’s likely assets is a deep-dive capability to perform tasks at particularly great depths. In addition to laying mines, more miniature submarines may also be able to manipulate underwater sea cables through which digital information traffic flows.
“The Belgorod submarine opens up new opportunities for Russia in conducting various research, allows conducting diverse scientific expeditions and rescue operations in the most remote areas of the world ocean,” according to a July statement from Russian Navy chief Admiral Nikolai Anatolyevich Yevmenov, as per USNI News.
“The ship is designed to solve diverse scientific problems, conduct search and rescue operations, and can also be used as a carrier of rescue deep-sea and autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles.”
But in addition to the clandestine-scientific abilities of the Belgorod, it also possesses a robust set of nuclear munitions onboard, part of the submarine’s nuclear deterrence mission.
Nuclear Deterrence Mission
The Belgorod is still a combat submarine and one that can launch nuclear torpedoes, and the Belgorod sets sail with six Poseidon torpedoes that carry a nuclear warhead. The Poseidon torpedoes are thought to be a family of torpedoes that can be optimized for multiple target sets, such as American Carrier Strike Groups or coastal cities.
Not only are the Poseidon torpedoes nuclear-tipped, but they’re also nuclear-powered, and as such, have a virtually unlimited range as well as what is supposed to be a very high top speed that likely would outpace virtually all surface vessels and submarines.
Early reports indicated that the Belgorod would serve in the Pacific Ocean after it completed its trials and commissioning, a source within the Russian Defense Ministry told TASS.
“According to preliminary information, the Belgorod submarine will serve in the Pacific Ocean after commissioning. However, it would be able to perform missions in any location of the World Ocean,” the source told TASS.
These earlier reports — crucially, those that predate Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — hinted that Russia sought to reinforce its position in the Arctic to support its stake in the emerging great game unfolding at those far northern latitudes. Given the higher priority that the ongoing war in Ukraine now takes over some of Russia’s potential future stakes, that mission for Belgorod may have been put on the back burner.
Image of an Russian Oscar-class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
What Happens Now?
Given the clandestine nature of the Belgorod, much about the submarine is likely to remain unknown. Regardless, the submarine plays a unique role within the Russian Navy and is undoubtedly one of the most advanced submarines the Kremlin can deploy for specialized, secretive services.
Russian emphasis is currently laser-focused on making gains before a settlement of some kind can be arranged with Ukraine, which at first blush would appear to come at a cost to the Belgorod. But given the high-profile cable-cutting incidents in the Baltic Sea this year as well as last, there may yet be a clandestine underwater mission that the Belgorod can fill. Time will tell.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
