The boat will be able to operate both in autonomous mode and be controlled by a small crew, the interlocutor of TASS notes
MOSCOW, January 19. /tass/. An unmanned torpedo boat capable of detecting and destroying enemy submarines in the far sea zone and in the Arctic latitudes in autonomous mode is being developed for the Russian Navy. This was reported to TASS by a source in the military-industrial complex.
"Currently, an unmanned boat is being developed on an initiative basis, the main purpose of which is to search for and destroy enemy submarines in autonomous mode. After detecting an enemy boat, the unmanned system will independently identify the target and make a decision to launch a torpedo," the agency interlocutor said.
According to the source, the boat will be able to operate both offline and controlled by a small crew, as well as remotely controlled by operators from the coastal center or from the carrier ship of such drones. "An Arctic version of a torpedo bomber with a reinforced hull for swimming in broken ice is also envisaged," he added.
"With the help of several torpedo-carrying robots, it will be possible, without involving the main anti-submarine forces, to quickly deploy a temporary anti-submarine line in the area of combat patrol of a grouping of Navy ships or to strengthen defense at fleet bases," the agency interlocutor noted.
According to him, an unmanned boat with a length of 14 meters will be able to reach a speed of more than 35 knots, move with sea waves up to 6 points and function for more than three days without refueling. The ammunition will consist of two universal electric torpedoes with a caliber of 533 mm.
TASS has no official confirmation of this information.
