Russia may place nuclear-tipped cruise missiles aboard nuclear-powered attack submarines, according to the RIA Novosti Russian news service.
The report quoted Russian Vice Adm. Oleg Burtsev, deputy head of the navy general staff.
Russia now holds that gigantic nuclear weapons atop ICBMs carried in boomer subs are unneeded, because tactical nukes with low-yield warheads on cruise missiles can accomplish the same effect just as well, while cruise missile precision and range improve steadily.
Carrying the cruise missiles will be the new Severodvinsk nuclear-powered attack subs that will go operational next year or in about two years.