Russian deep-water drone collision in Norwegian Sea damages ship and halts tests.

According to information published by Informator on July 12, 2024, the Russian Navy's deep-water reconnaissance vehicle AS-36 collided with the Northern Fleet ship Mikhail Rudnitsky during a test in the Norwegian Sea, resulting in damage to the vessel's hull.
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The deep-sumbergence rescue vehicle AS-36. (Picture source: korabel)

On July 1, the AS-36 was being lowered into the sea for a deep-water test when the crew lost control of the apparatus. The resulting collision caused extensive damage to both the AS-36 and the Mikhail Rudnitsky. The scale of the damage is currently being assessed by the Russian Navy.

The AS-36, an expensive and recently modernized deep-water vehicle, was upgraded at the Kanonersky Ship Repair Plant in St. Petersburg starting in 2017. The modifications included enhanced capabilities for underwater technical operations, search missions, and the rescue of submarine crews at depths up to 1000 meters.

Equipped with advanced technology such as a manipulator, radio-technical equipment, an automated control system, and a new navigation complex, the AS-36 is designed for precise location determination both on the sea surface and underwater. It is a key asset of the Northern Fleet's emergency rescue unit based in Severomorsk.

The collision not only damaged the vessel but also rendered the AS-36 inoperative for further tests. Russian authorities are currently estimating the time and resources required to repair the apparatus.

Comments

The incident reveals potential vulnerabilities in the handling and deployment protocols of sophisticated underwater equipment by the Russian Navy.

Strategically, this incident might affect Russia's maritime capabilities, especially in the strategically crucial Arctic region, where deep-sea operations are critical for maintaining and projecting power.