By TASS Russian news agency
The project currently exists only asย aย computer picture, however itย shows the development trends ofย the Russian shipbuilding, TASS military writer Dmitry Litovkin said. Varan isย distinguished byย aย modular design. Itย isย assembled from various units. Itย accelerates construction and allows easily using the platform toย build anย aircraft carrier, anย amphibious assault ship, aย hospital ship orย anย Arctic supply vessel.
The technology isย introduced byย Sevmash Shipyard inย Severodvinsk, which isย the main producer ofย nuclear submarines. The enterprise isย switching toย aย modular-block construction method. Itย makes aย nuclear submarine from prefabricated sections with all the equipment instead ofย building the hull first and then installing all machinery and equipment through special technological openings. Head ofย Sevmash Design Bureau Alexander Spiridonov received the top award ofย the Krylov Scientific-Technical Society inย the Young Shipbuilder-Engineer-2017 contest for the idea.
Rubin Design Bureau isย also engaged inย the work. Its CEO Igor Vilnit told TASS the bureau had designed aย line ofย modular unmanned underwater craft. โWeย initiated aย series ofย autonomous unmanned underwater craft built byย aย modular design,โ heย said.
The modular scheme allows adapting the product for any specific task. Vilnit said the cost and capabilities ofย the design make itย competitive inย the world market. The technology can beย used inย future toย design sophisticated nuclear submarines. The unification idea proposes that the subs will have similar modular blocks with technological equipment and devices, while the compartments for weapons will differ according toย the missions. The military will tell shipyards whether they need anย SSBN orย SSGN.
Nevskoe Design Bureau has been regularly presenting projects ofย aircraft-carrying and amphibious assault ships ofย late. They include the Lamantin-class aircraft carrier ofย project 11430E, which was displayed atย the Navy show inย St. Petersburg inย 2019, and Priboi-class universal amphibious assault ships.
Lamantin isย aย 350-meter long aircraft carrier with aย displacement ofย 90 thousand tons. The flight deck has aย bow ski-jump with two launch sites. They will have electromagnetic catapults. There isย aย deck with launch positions and four arresters. The warship has anย island superstructure moved toย the starboard. The crew comprises 2800 men and the airpower isย 800-men strong. The cruising capacity isย 120 days.
The nuclear reactor ofย the Lamantin provides high running and combat characteristics. The estimated maximum speed isย 30 knots. The cruising range isย practically unlimited. Maintenance and overhaul can keep itย operational for half aย century. The airpower has toย comprise 60 various aircraft. The ski-jump and catapults are fit for light and heavy fighter jets, asย well asย AEW aircraft. Helicopters will also beย engaged. The warship will operate upย toย ten drones. Some airpower will stay inย aย hangar.
The Priboi project exists as a mockup. There is no order from the Defense Ministry, but Nevskoe Bureau continues to design prospective warships on its own initiative. 3D computer technologies allow doing it at a low cost.
