Russia starts construction of new autonomous deep diving submersible.

According to information published by Sudostroenie on March 28, 2024, the Admiralty Shipyards (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) have commenced the keel-laying of the Project 18200 autonomous deep-sea vehicle Sergey Bavilin.
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A model of the future Project 18200 autonomous deep diving submersible Sergey Bavilin. (Picture source: КБ Малахит)

Andrey Bystrov, CEO of the Admiralty Shipyards, highlighted the company's extensive experience in constructing similar vessels, including autonomous deep-sea vehicles like "Rus," "Consul," "Bester," "Poisk-6," and others.

The Project 18200 autonomous deep-sea vehicle is designed for scientific research, historical-archaeological explorations, emergency rescue operations, and environmental monitoring of the World Ocean.

Russian autonomous deep diving submersibles

The Vityaz-D is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed for full-ocean depth exploration, reaching the World Ocean's deepest point, the Mariana Trench. Developed by the Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering (RUBIN) under the sponsorship of the Advanced Research Foundation, this AUV represents a significant technological leap.

It boasts a length of 5.7 meters, a speed of 1 meter per second, and an impressive endurance of 24 hours. Capable of operating at a maximum depth of 12,000 meters, the Vityaz-D is equipped with artificial intelligence to navigate and avoid obstacles autonomously, making it a pivotal asset for the Russian Navy in both military operations and oceanographic exploration​.

Another asset in the Russian Navy's deep-sea arsenal is the AS-39 Consul autonomous deep-sea submersible. Designed for a variety of tasks including search, examination, video filming of underwater objects, and underwater works via a manipulator system, the AS-39 Consul can reach depths of up to 6,000 meters, has a speed of 3 knots, and can sustain operations for up to 12 hours.