The largest arms exhibitions that took place in Russia this year, such as the Naval Show in Kronstadt and the Army-2023 forum in Kubinka near Moscow, provided a lot of information for analysis by specialists, experts and journalists. In the field of marine technology, in particular, the new underwater drone «Argus» was presented for the first time, it was announced that new nuclear submarines would be commissioned this year, that naval ships would be armed with new hypersonic missiles «Zircon», and so on. After these exhibitions, the head of the specialized editorial office of the agency, Sergei Safronov, asked Andrei Baranov, Deputy General Director of the Rubin Central Design Bureau, to share his views on the development of marine technology.
— Andrei Igorevich, how would you comment on the transfer of USC assets to the management of VTB Bank?
– I consider the emergence of VTB as the management company of USC as a positive phenomenon for the shipbuilding industry as a whole. Innovative developments in shipbuilding are costly; moreover, you cannot leave the country’s defense “market” — neither today nor in 50 years. It is bankers who understand well that in order to obtain a return on assets, investments are first needed. The more complex equipment we develop, the more participants in the project: from academic institutions to manufacturers of electric motors and sealants. Everyone involved needs to not only develop drawings and 3D models, but also conduct a whole range of tests — hydrodynamics, strength, reliability, and the like. Tests help reduce financial and timing risks, as well as show the product face to face. Then all this equipment must be manufactured. It is obvious that financing such a complex work is beyond the power of one design bureau. The bureau’s task is a technical design, working design documentation, including the creation of a 3D model, sometimes the creation of a prototype, but it will be too expensive for the bureau to pay for all incoming contractor work. Let's take for example the same autonomous uninhabited underwater vehicle «Argus», which premiered at the Army-2023 forum. Rubin is ready to finance 20% of its construction, in fact, it has already done this, but the remaining 80% will need to be found, and, we hope, VTB will help us. Thus, the transfer of USC to the management of a bank can contribute to a more vigorous promotion of innovative proposals. We have enough promising developments, it’s a matter of funding.
— Let's talk about Argus then. Rubin developed it to protect infrastructure and search for dangerous objects near underwater pipelines in the light of the Nord Stream explosions. But it is also known that Rubin plans to create an entire underwater robotic complex in which Argus will be used in conjunction with a bottom mooring device. Tell us more about this complex.
– To be aware of the condition of pipelines that occupy a significant area of the seabed, it is necessary to have an efficient and self-sufficient subsea infrastructure. An underwater mooring device will expand the capabilities of the vehicle by charging batteries, as well as providing information exchange with a control center located on shore or on an offshore platform. With underwater mooring devices, the vehicles will not need surface support vessels, which will significantly reduce operating costs. In this complex, Argus will be able to act as a “resident” underwater vehicle, capable of staying under water for six months, and then more.
– At what depth can it operate?
– Depends on the customer’s tasks. The basic version that we offered to Gazprom offers a working depth of 600 meters with the ability to dive up to a kilometer. But modifications of three and six kilometers are also possible. Our uninhabited vehicle «Vityaz-D» worked in the Mariana Trench at a depth of 11 kilometers, so today we can solve problems at any depth.
— «Vityaz» is made of titanium?
– It has a titanium “skeleton”, the body of the device is made of composite materials. Technologies for creating the Vityaz can be used on other devices and at other depths, depending on the tasks assigned.
– The topic of using drones, both air and sea, in the light of the SVO is especially relevant now. Almost everyone knows how to use them, but how to deal with them effectively? Are there any means today to combat sea drones, for example, another drone?
– Let’s go from simple to complex: sea approaches to bases, ports and similar infrastructure, among other things, are protected by boom networks. In underwater warfare, torpedoes have long been used, which are similar to uninhabited vehicles; anti-torpedo protection means are also known, taking into account new threats they are being developed and modified.
Other countermeasures are technically possible, but for now this is a closed topic.< br/>– Andrey Igorevich, you are the deputy general director of the Rubin Central Design Bureau for military-technical cooperation (MTC), that is, for the sale of marine equipment abroad. In light of Western sanctions and the disconnection of Russian banks from the SWIFT system, does military-technical cooperation still exist?
— Of course, it exists. The delivery of a submarine is a large-scale cooperation project, because the ship is not only designed, built and tested, but also maintained and modernized. The life cycle of a submarine takes several decades, none of our traditional military-technical cooperation partners have gone anywhere, we are working with them.
Of course, difficulties have arisen, primarily in the area of payments. The traditional scheme of settlements in dollars via the SWIFT system has closed, and the need for alternative settlement schemes has arisen. Rosoboronexport is actively involved in this, solutions have been found. The work is going on, we will not tell our ill-wishers how this is happening.
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To the credit of both the state and industry, these financial difficulties did not lead to the suspension of military-technical cooperation under the slogan: “No money — no supplies.” We continue to work under existing contracts, fulfill all our obligations: repair of previously delivered boats, their modernization, supply of new equipment, spare parts.
– What are the prospects for the presented project of a non-nuclear submarine of the Amur E600 type?
– This is our innovative export concept project, aimed, among other things, at finding new customers. We conceived a boat that does not require coastal infrastructure, has high autonomy, and is well suited for shallow waters, closed and marginal seas. Work on this project continues at Rubin.
“During its presentation, emphasis was placed on the fact that this mini-boat can be unmanned, that is, again, a marine underwater drone. Is work going in this direction?
– Yes, in the future it can be made unmanned.
– Last year, the Rubin Central Design Bureau also presented a new concept for the strategic nuclear submarine Arcturus. However, during the presentation it was said that the boat could appear in one form or another only after 2050. Meanwhile, it is well known that design thought does not stand still, and in the medium term, the Boreys should be replaced by some other boats. When can this happen?
– The Arcturus concept is not the only possible one; there are more traditional ones in the medium term. We offer options, the fleet evaluates and selects the best. This is how all the nuclear submarines you know, including the most modern ones, were born.