Russia begins trials of nuclear-powered underwater drone

Russia's TASS news agency reports that the country's navy has begun trials of the Poseidon nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV).

Termed by Russian defence industry observers as a strategic drone, the unmanned vehicle is being developed as part of a programme that seeks to introduce into service a UUV that can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Poseidon's onboard miniaturised nuclear reactor will enable it to achieve both high underwater speeds and long range. The UUV is also designed to be launched from and recovered aboard Russian Navy nuclear-powered submarines currently in service.