Tri-Service

Russian TV "Accidentally" Airs Secret Nuclear Torpedo Plans

The Kremlin has confirmed that two state-controlled news channels accidentally broadcast secret plans for a nuclear torpedo system.

Russian television stations NTV and Channel One showed a military official looking at a confidential document during a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

Mr Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said:

“It’s true some secret data got into the shot, therefore it was subsequently deleted. In future we will undoubtedly take preventive measures so this does not happen again.”

Details of a torpedo system armed with nuclear warheads, to be fired by submarines, were in clear view for several seconds.

Called Status-6, the document says the weapons would inflict massive damage to coastal areas, creating “zones of extensive radioactive contamination, making them unsuitable for military or economic activity for a long period".

Russian media, meanwhile, has reported that the torpedos would have a range of over 6,200 miles, as well as being able to bypass NATO's missile defence system.

It's currently unclear, however, what stage the project is in and whether it will be completed.

It comes after Mr Putin said the US is trying to "neutralise Russia’s nuclear potential” by strengthening its missile defences in Europe - and promised a response.

In the meeting in which the document is shown, the Russian President warns his country "will take necessary retaliatory measures to strengthen the potential of our strategic nuclear forces”, with those present discussing ways of penetrating missile defense systems.

It's currently unclear how the footage got past checks on Russia's normally tightly-controlled state news channels.