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(Image: GETTY/PENTAGON)

Leaked documents about the status of the US military’s nuclear arsenal reveal the existence of the long rumoured weapon.

Vladimir Putin is claimed to have tested a drone nuclear submarine dubbed the Status-6 – and codenamed Kanyon by the Pentagon.

Allegedly, the weapon can carry nuclear warheads of up to 100 megatons – the equivalent of 100 million tons of TNT.

This is twice the size of the largest nuke ever – the Soviet Union’s Tsar Bomba.

Russia’s drone submarine was described as an “nuclear-armed undersea autonomous torpedo” in the Pentagon files.

The revelation comes after the leak of US President Donald Trump’s new Nuclear Posture Review.

This details the future needs for the US nuclear arsenal, and examines what Washington’s perceived rivals are developing.

It reveals the existence of the Russia drone – and also mentions the so-called hypersonic glide vehicle, which is believed to top Putin’s new nuke missile the Satan 2.

(Image: PENTAGON) (Image: GETTY)

“In addition to modernising ‘legacy’ Soviet nuclear systems, Russia is developing and deploying new nuclear warheads and launchers,” the document said.

"These efforts include multiple upgrades for every leg of the Russian nuclear triad of strategic bombers, sea-based missiles and land-based missiles.

"Russia is also developing at least two new intercontinental range systems, a hypersonic glide vehicle and a new intercontinental, nuclear-armed undersea autonomous torpedo.”

Rumours of the Russian weapon have been circulating since 2016 – with US sources claiming the Status-6 was launched from a submarine in November that year.

Russian reports claimed the weapon could be outfitted with a nuclear warhead of up to 100 megatons.

Status-6 is claimed to have a range of 6,200 miles, can sail at depths of 3,280 feet and cruise at 56 knots (64mph).

And it is claimed by Russian media Putin’s newest submarines could be armed with up to four of these drones.

(Image: GETTY)

The leaked document was the draft version of the Nuclear Posture Review, and all references to the Status-6 were removed from the final version.

Russia is believed to be upping its nuclear arsenal by developing weapons which can be armed with conventional explosives as well.

This allows Moscow to dodge any regulations placed on them by its nuke treaty with the US, the review claims.