Modified Trawler Pitched as Royal Navy Russian Sub Hunter

Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Maritime unveiled its concept for an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for use in hunting Russian submarines in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Dubbed by the company as “Arctic Hunter,” it is based on the 56-meter (184-feet) Arctic-class commercial fishing trawler and is envisaged as being part of the UK Royal Navy (RN) hybrid fleet program. This will see uncrewed vessels supporting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations alongside manned ships such as the Type 26 frigates, being built by BAE Systems for the UK, Australia, Canada, and Norway. The USVs, which will be categorized by the RN as the Type 92, would carry Thales UK’s submarine-hunting sonar technology along with secure communications and guidance systems. Modifications to the existing design will include changes to the hull and propellers to reduce its acoustic signature and to avoid interfering with the onboard sonar, according to the company.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The company said the vessel’s internal capacity and deck space would allow it to carry additional or alternative payloads as dictated by evolving operational requirements and would enable it to conduct underwater surveillance missions of up to 60 days endurance. Kongsberg Maritime’s concept of operations for deployment of the “Arctic Hunter” envisages a 10-ship flotilla based near the “Bear Gap,” the stretch of the Arctic Ocean between Svalbard and Norway, through which Russian submarines must pass en-route to the Atlantic. Other Topics of Interest Russian Drone Hits Sumy Train as Crew Takes Shelter A Russian drone struck a commuter train at Sumy station on Nov. 10. No passengers were aboard, and the crew was sheltering, officials said. A Kongsberg Maritime spokesman said the development of the “Arctic Hunter” was a case of reengineering a well-proven, commercial vessel suited to harsh North Atlantic conditions that “simply needed to be retooled for unmanned operations.” He also said that, if selected to be the Type 92, the company intends to construct the ships at the UK’s Balaena Maritime shipyard in Birkenhead after which they would be fitted out with military equipment, and enter service by the end of the decade. The War Zone (TWZ) military issues website quoted Bruce Balchin of Kongsberg Maritime as clarifying the company’s approach, saying: “Replace towing fish with towing sonar,” adding that the Arctic trawler had already proved it was capable of operating in demanding sea conditions: “It’s not a stretch to say we straight away got a vessel which is hardened to that environment, used to working at that sea state.” The company also said that the proposed autonomous systems with which the Arctic Hunter would be fitted have received certification for uncrewed operations from the DNV (Det Norske Veritas), the globally recognized independent maritime technical advisor, along with Norway’s own Maritime Authority, confirming their compliance with applicable safety requirements. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.