Russian Navy to Purchase Iceland Underwater Robots

27.02.2012 Russian Navy will receive stand-alone unmanned submersibles made in Iceland.

Russian defense ministry plans to spend RUR 744.244 mln on eight autonomous unmanned submersibles produced by Teledyn Gavia (Iceland), reports Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspsper. Three underwater robots are expected to join Russian Navy in the current year, other five – in 2013-2014.

According to Teledyne Gavia, the submersibles are capable to accomplish various military, commercial, and scientific tasks.

Versatility and modular structure combined with possibility to alter sensors make Gavia submersibles perfect for naval forces and law enforcement authorities.

Gavia is operated by a team of 2-4 men and does not need a mother ship. It is transported by a truck or a pickup and can be launched from coast, small-size ships, or even a motorboat.

Russia has own development experience of unmanned submersibles, but they are larger, heavier, and have another functions. Formerly, the USSR occupied world's leading positions in the area of unmanned submersibles, writes Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

Experimental program-controlled submersible Skat with hydroacoustic navigation was designed early 70's for research purposes on continental shelf. It was the basis for first operational submersible Skat-Geo made in 1976 and successfully tested in 1978 at geodesic range in the White Sea. Since mid-70's through late 80's, Soviet designers created robot system Lortodromia (L-2), autonomous submersibles Tiflonus and MT-88. Submersibles CR-01 and CR-02 were designed later.