$2bn nuclear submarine smashes through Arctic ice in jaw-dropping display of power
Published on Feb 12, 2026 at 11:06 AM (UTC-5)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 12, 2026 at 12:48 PM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This nuclear submarine smashed through the Arctic ice like it’s nothing.
This is a very expensive ‘vehicle’, and to be fair even calling it a vehicle sounds a bit strange.
At $2 billion, this submarine is more expensive than nearly anything else in the oceans.
And there’s something else about this video that makes it quite interesting.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
The video went viral, but it’s not new
This video was reportedly filmed in 2016, but it goes viral practically every winter because, as we all know, that’s how the internet works.
The submarine is the USS Hartford SSN-768, a Los Angeles-class (more on that later) nuclear submarine emerging from ice in the Beaufort Sea near the Arctic Circle.
It’s an awesome display of power, but then again it’d better be because this submarine costs around $2 billion to build.
This is actually a ‘seasoned’ submarine.
She was launched in 1993 but the submarine is still in active service.
It’s 110 meters (361+ feet) long – slightly longer than a soccer pitch – and has enough room for up to 110 crew.
What does ‘class’ mean in a nuclear submarine?
We should probably start by debunking a misconception that we can easily blame on clickbait headlines in this politicized era we’re living in.
A nuclear submarine is not a submarine carrying nuclear ordnance.
Nuclear simply refers to what powers it: nuclear reactors.
The nuclear submarine we see here is a Los Angeles-class submarine and in naval terms, the ‘class’ the family of a particular submarine.
It’s an oversimplification and we apologize to any naval officer that’s reading this, but calling the Hartford a Los Angeles-class submarine is roughly the same as calling a Ford F-150 a Ford F-Series truck.
Los Angeles-class submarines are nuclear-powered attack submarines that are generally older than Virginia-class submarines, which are similar but come with more modern tech.
Obviously, this only applies to US submarines in service with the US Navy as there are several different types including, surprisingly, submarines that double as hotels.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
