Vladimir Putin is assembling a secret fleet of super submarines which could topple NATO and plunge the world into war.

A report by naval experts warns that Russia already has a small but sophisticated army of subs which are capable of launching missile strikes across the globe.

4 Experts warns Russia's secret fleet of super subs could plunge the world into war Credit: Getty Images

4 President Putin has re-established Russia as a major player on the world stage following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Credit: Getty Images

The deadly group of stealthy underwater weapons are currently patrolling the world and have already reportedly breached UK waters having approached the Royal Navy’s base in Faslane, Scotland.

Russia is stepping up its secret submarine programme to ‘Cold War' levels and experts warn NATO members “no longer” have the defences to stop the aquatic death machines.

Andrew Metrick, who co-wrote the report for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said: “Russia operates a small number of very small, nuclear powered submarines that are capable of diving in excess of several thousand meters.

“You can imagine what a clandestine deployable deep submergence vehicle could be used for.

RELATED STORIES DON'T BOO VOTE Barack Obama lays into Donald Trump accusing him of praising Saddam Hussein and Putin THAWING THE ICE Putin and NATO agree more talks to avert World War III erupting from chilling Baltic stand-off RUSSIA 'BOMBS' REFUGEES Putin's jets 'blitz makeshift camp' in Syria killing 12 people and injuring dozens more Exclusive Fresh cold war 4,000 British troops could be sent to Eastern Europe to guard against Vladimir Putin aggression Russian rampage Vladimir Putin to send Russia's largest warship to Syria to destroy ISIS once and for all WORLD WAR THREE FEARS Vladimir Putin threatens war after NATO doubles its forces along the Russian border MAD VLAD STRIKES AGAIN Putin's war jets pound 'secret' anti-ISIS SAS base in Syria with cluster bombs PUTIN IS WATCHING US The tyrant's Russian spy planes are flying over Britain – and the MoD is absolutely fine about it EUR HAVING A LAUGH Putin makes sick jibe about 200 Russian hooligans beating up 'thousands' of England football fans Video Put-in your head down Vladimir Putin reveals BEDROOM secrets in overheard private conversation

“It's pretty scary to think about some of the types of missions.

“It's probably the most shadowy part of the Russian undersea apparatus. It's not operated by their navy, it's operated by a separate branch of their Ministry of Defense.”

While the fleet is not as big as the Soviet Union’s colossal arsenal, the report says the new subs can dive deeper, and move quieter, than any ever before.

The nuclear-powered ships are armed with electronic warfare gear, long-range cruise missiles, torpedoes and mines.

4 A new Russian nuclear submarine, the Yuri Dolgoruky, cuts through the water near the northern city of Arkhangelsk Credit: Getty Images

4 Russian President Putin (2nd R) and Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov (L) watch the launch of a missile during military exercises in the Barents Sea Credit: Getty Images

And while the Kremlin is growing their amphibious firepower, the number of US submarines is dwindling.

The incredible report says the formerly formidable Royal Navy is at its “lowest ebb” while NATO needs to reinvest its defence capabilities or risk being toppled by the might of Putin’s super subs.

Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy captain with Center for New American Security, told Breaking Defense said: "We’re in a bad place as an alliance with regard to Russia’s underwater resurgence."

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368