nuclear upgrade
Arcturus – Moscow unveils futuristic next-generation nuclear submarine
The “Arcturus” deploys a drone.
© Rubin Design Bureau / PR
Russia has unveiled the revolutionary design of a stealth submarine. The “Arcturus” can hunt the enemy with drones and is supposed to protect its cargo from ICBMs.
At the annual military exhibition near Moscow, the Rubin design bureau presented a revolutionary new submarine design. The “Arcturus” is a next-generation strategic craft primarily intended to carry nuclear missiles. The soft, flowing forms and the avoidance of all edges are particularly striking. A look that is familiar from modern stealth aircraft. With a suitable coating, an incoming sonar should be reflected so diffusely that the opponent no longer receives a usable signal.
stealth forms
The design is not entirely new; the dreadnought class and the Type 212 CD, which is built for Germany and Norway, also implement it. The “Arcturus” will have a new type of propulsion system. The screw will no longer have a shaft, it will be driven purely electrically. The primary purpose of this drive is to reduce the telltale noises. However, since there are fewer moving and therefore stressed components, this drive is also more reliable than a conventional screw – with greater maneuverability.
Smaller than the predecessors
The Arcturus, like other designs, is struggling to maintain the stealth capability of submarines at depth, although the technology to detect them continues to advance. Submarine expert H. Sutton points out that advances in missile technology make the submarine about 20 percent smaller than its predecessors. The Arcturus class will only have 12 rocket launchers, while the Borei class still has 16 tubes. Presumably, if the boat is built, it will be equipped with hypersonic missiles. In order to hunt opponents herself, the Arcturus will carry two or three Surrogate-V autonomous underwater drones. A rocket launcher is designed to launch a smaller drone. In the stern there are three hangars for the Surrogate-V. Among other things, the drone can sniff out chemical impurities in the water and thus detect enemy submarines. At the same time, the drone can mimic the signatures of large submarines to mislead the enemy. The pump jet propulsion is intended to give the drone mobility and high speed under water.
Just one more draft
The “Arcturus” could be deployed in the Arctic, on whose territory and raw materials Moscow lays claim. This is indicated by the name Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere. Should the economic sanctions drive Russia’s economy to collapse, Putin is unlikely to be able to implement the project for the time being. If that’s not the case, things look different. The convincing threat of a nuclear strike is the “life insurance” for Putin’s rule after the attack on Ukraine. The presentation now is also a reminder of Russia’s status as a nuclear power.