Navy to get new deep-sea diving armor in 2010

12.08.2010 Russian Navy will receive new deep sea diving armor and equipment to dive down to 60 meters before the year is out, said a Navy spokesman at the press conference.

Navy command made a decision of capital re-equipment of Navy SR service after Aug 12, 2000 when SSN Kursk wrecked in the Barents Sea with 118-man crew on board as a result of accidental torpedo explosion.

"This year the Navy will be provided with special diving equipment; new-generation submariner's outfits equipped with rescue hatch compression system ensuring escape of submariners from wrecked submarine; new multi-purpose diving armor SVU-5 designed for salvage, rescue, repair, and other underwater works at depths down to 60 meters", said the official.

According to him, diving equipment SVU-5 was tested in ice model basin of Polar Medicine Center in St. Petersburg.

He reminded that through 10 years passed since the Kursk accident, Russian Navy had done a great work aimed at modernization of search-and-rescue facilities and improvement of crew training.

In particular, SR services of all fleets received Pantera Plus airmobile systems which have already shown their worth during annual SR drills.

Unmanned submersibles of observation class (Tiger-type) and operative class (Kvantum-type and Venom-type) are also capable to perform a wide range of tasks.

"Russian Navy obtained a simulator system designed for training of submersible operators", added the Navy representative.

Through the recent 10 years the great attention has been paid to improvement of submariners' damage control skills. All appropriate instructions were revised and became more severe; practice is held in realistic environment. Some rescue drills are performed during international SR exercises.