SubSea Craft, a UK-based SME, provides a competitive edge in maritime technology. As a product-focused enterprise, it is fully prepared to meet the needs of the market. The company has successfully formed strong partnerships with best-in-class organizations in the maritime and defense sectors, solidifying its position in the industry.
Ever since the ROK Navy introduced its new Naval MUM-T (Manned-Unmanned Teaming) approach called GHOST (Guardian Harmonized with Operating manned Systems and Technology-based unmanned systems), defense companies have been unveiling their unmanned systems capable of Manned and Unmanned Teaming. The ROK Navy’s GHOST approach necessitates several technologies, including autonomous technology and data-link technology integrated with both manned and unmanned systems.
SubSea Craft has demonstrated its capability to deliver manned and unmanned technology with the introduction of two variants of the VICTA DDU. The manned VICTA variant serves as a rapid surface vessel equipped with highly advanced submersible capabilities. It excels in its ability to transport up to eight special forces operators, along with their equipment and payloads, into contested waters. The VICTA incorporates innovative features such as a fly-by-wire system and automated diving procedures, allowing for a swift transition from a surface vessel to a submerged mode in just two minutes. Its advanced control system ensures automatic depth maintenance by continuously monitoring the trim and ballast of the VICTA, significantly reducing pilot workload and increasing safety and mission success likelihood. The life support system is designed to provide air for up to eight operators, with a capacity of 4 hours based on a mean breathing rate of 18 liters per minute, and with a reserve of 20%.
The basic specification is as follows:
Surface Endurance: 250nm
Surface Speed: 40 knots
Transition Time: 2 min
Subsurface speed: 8 knots
Subsurface Endurance: 25nm
Dive depth: 30m
Pilots: 2
Operators: 6
Weight: under 9.5 tons, fits within the standard 40ft ISO container
As stated by SubSea Craft, the autonomous variant of the VICTA offers comparable performance to the manned variant, while boasting an increased payload capacity and enhanced connectivity between the manned and unmanned versions. Furthermore, the VICTA’s modular structure allows for scalable manufacturing processes, resulting in reduced delivery times for the product.
The Republic of Korea Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) SEALs are highly skilled maritime operatives entrusted with various underwater missions. However, their current diver delivery equipment, such as the Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV), is outdated and reminiscent of the 1990s era. Considering this, the VICTA DDU presents itself as a promising option for the ROK Navy. The VICTA DDU offers versatile deployment capabilities, allowing it to be utilized from land, other vessels, and even air, thus enabling a broader range of covert operations for the UDT SEALs. Additionally, the VICTA’s autonomous capabilities could prove highly effective in discreetly deploying operators in advance of a major amphibious landing or executing coordinated terminal attacks on critical enemy facilities.
Check out our video interview with SubSea Craft during MADEX 2023: