Russia develops preliminary design of AIP unit for Sarma UUV

Russia Sarma UUV
Image via Covert Shores
The first Russian oxygen/hydrogen air-independent propulsion (AIP) unit designed for the Sarma unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) is planned to be developed, Deputy Head for Physical and Technical Research of the Advanced Research Foundation Viktor Litvinenko told TASS.
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By TASS Russian news agency

“The air-independent propulsion unit using hydrogen and oxygen is planned to be developed. It is a new technological direction that allows operating underwater for a long time without surfacing,” Litvinenko said.

Deputy Head for Physical and Technical Research of the Advanced Research Foundation Viktor Litvinenko added:

“The preliminary design has been developed. There are necessary conditions for the development of the AIP system. A hydrogen air-independent propulsion unit that could work for a long time underwater has not been developed by anyone. We hope for a positive outcome,”

As Litvinenko said, the first vehicle will be equipped with accumulators, the promising propulsion unit will be designed for further versions of the Sarma submersible.

A big number of associate contractors are working on the air-independent propulsion unit on order of the Advanced Research Foundation.

The Sarma unmanned undersea vehicle developed by the Lazurit Design Bureau will be able to dive to a depth of 1 km and accomplish assigned missions for three months independently. The submersible will be capable of covering a distance of more than 8,000 km. A vehicle demonstrator is planned to be made in 2022-2023.

-End-

Naval News comments:

Russia’s FPI (Advanced Research Foundation) recently revealed some details of a new uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) called Sarma. Although few details have emerged the associated graphic indicates a craft approximately in the Large-Displacement UUV category (LDUUV). This makes it roughly the same size as the existing Klavesin (Harpsichord) family. Read more about Sarma UUV at Covert Shores.

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