Tuesday, December 6, 2016

XLT: Rubin Designing Submarine Imitator for RF Navy

Surrogat submarine imitator
[credit: Rubin Central Design Bureau]

                                                      [Translation of TASS news article]

ROBOT CAPABLE OF IMMITATING ANY SUB BEING CREATED FOR RF NAVY
TASS
December 6, 2016

According to designer, vehicle will be notable for is simplicity of use and low maintenance and upgrade costs

MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. Specialists at Rubin Central Design Bureau have developed a draft concept of the Surrogat robotic complex to be used in RF Navy training. According to the design bureau, talks with the Navy about this project are in progress.

"Surrogat is equipped with a lithium-ion battery. The submarine imitator is capable of supporting training for up to 15-16 hours and will simulate a foreign submarine's maneuvers the entire time, to include at high speeds. Comparatively large dimensions (approximate 17-meter length) and an ability to employ various towed antennas will allow the vehicle to realistically simulate an enemy submarine's physical fields - acoustic and magnetic," says the Rubin Central Design Bureau.

The imitator vehicle's modular design allows for its functionality to be altered: Surrogat can imitate both a non-nuclear and nuclear submarine, as well as conduct mapping and survey missions.

Surrogat submarine imitator
[credit: Rubin Central Design Bureau]

"Today combat submarines must be used in exercises or testing, which takes them away from executing their primary missions. Using an unmanned imitator will help avoid this and lower the cost of training. Additionally, an unmanned submarine reduces risks while preserving a level of realism. This vehicle will be notable for its simplicity of use and low maintenance and upgrade costs. We are now consulting with RF Navy representatives to ensure the imitator fully satisfies the Navy's requirements," Rubin Central Design Bureau general director Igor Vilnit explained.

Rubin is not ruling out interest in Surrogat by foreign customers.

The Surrogat autonomous unmanned submarine displaces about 40 tons, has a range of about 600 miles at a speed of 5 knots, a maximum speed of more than 24 knots, and a maximum diving depth of 600 meters.