Rubin announced it is offering the first version of a submersible patrol ship combining the benefits of a submarine and a surface patrol vessel. The concept named the Sentry (Border and Offshore Submersible Sentry, BOSS) is intended for foreign customers.
Offshore patrol vessels are relatively inexpensive, which makes them affordable for countries with constrained budgets. Their operation is profitable because they can be used to prevent illegal trade, poaching and other law infringements. Ships of this type are multi-functional and can be used as patrol ships, and as rescue or research vessels as well. Equipment for the new ship comes mostly from surface ships and aircraft and is commercially available.
The ability to dive provides the ship with two advantages at a time: to discreetly observe inflictors (and to catch them red-handed) and evade harsh weather conditions without aborting the mission. A submersible ship can be used as a classical submarine, for intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR), as well as other missions. Seabed research capability of the submersible patrol ship would be wider than those of a surface ship. It can also serve as an inexpensive training vessel to give crews seagoing experience and prepare the infrastructure before purchasing classical submarines at a later stage.
In its architecture and outline, the ship resembles Whiskey-class submarines (Project 613) - the most numerous series of the Soviet submarines, very popular with foreign customers. Basic parameters are also much the same, with the surface displacement around 1000 tons, overall length 60 to 70 meters depending on the configuration, and the crew up to 42 people including the boarding team. Large pressure-proof containers can be used to store RHIBs for boarding teams or an UAV with up to 3 hours endurance, its launch sequence will be automated and will not require the presence of people on the open deck. At the customer's choice, the ship can be fitted with torpedoes, small guided missiles and auto-cannon.
The Joint-Stock Company “Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering “Rubin” is the largest in Russia among marine engineering companies offering design services.
Since its start in 1901, the Company activities have inseparably been linked with national defense, with over 85 % of submarines in the Soviet and later Russian Navy built to the designs of CDB ME “Rubin”, including several generations of strategic missile cruiser submarines.
Non-nuclear submarines designed by Rubin have become a significant component in the Russian naval export and enabled Russia to secure its position in this sector of international arms trade.
The experience with civil advanced-technology facilities was gained as a result of the diversification in the 1990s. Nowadays, Rubin is the leading company in the United Shipbuilding Corporation to design the facilities for offshore oil and gas field development.
Key areas of Rubin’s expertise include:
- Design of all classes of submarines
- Construction of marine robotic systems
- Design of marine structures for various applications
- Production of training means and facilities for various applications
- Supervision, maintenance and retrofitting for objects designed by Rubin
- Design, production, testing and supplies of prototypes and production samples of onboard equipment
