Russia Working on First Ever Robotic Torpedo-Carrying Submarine Hunter

Russia is developing an unmanned torpedo-carrying ship capable of autonomously detecting and eliminating enemy submarines in distant waters and Arctic latitudes.

"Work is currently underway at the design firm’s own initiative to develop an unmanned craft designated to hunt down and eliminate adversary submarines in autonomous mode. After spotting an enemy submarine, the robotic system will on its own identify the target and make a decision on launching a torpedo," a source in the domestic defense industry was quoted as saying by TASS on Wednesday.

The Russian defense ministry is yet to confirm the development of such a boat.

The  source added that the robotic torpedo boat will be capable of both operating autonomously and being controlled by a small crew and also being remotely controlled by operators from a costal center or from aboard a carrier ship of these drones, he said.

"The Arctic version of the robotic torpedo craft with a reinforced hull for navigating through broken ice is also envisaged," the source said.

"Several robotic torpedo-carrying vessels will make it possible to promptly deploy a temporary anti-submarine frontier in the area of combat patrols by a naval task force without engaging basic anti-submarine forces or to reinforce defense at the fleet’s naval bases," he said.

The 14m-long robotic boat will be capable of accelerating to over 35 knots, sailing in rough seas of up to six points and operating for as long as three days without refueling. The robotic submarine killer will have an ammunition load of two 533mm multi-purpose electric torpedoes, the source stated further.