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Highland Systems (a company based in the UAE) redesigned the Kronos stealth submarine, which could be a game-changer in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Alexander Kuznetsov, the founder and chief designer of Highland Systems, explains that while the submarine was first built for carrying workers for underwater repairs and for luxury travel, the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced him and his team to redesign the submarine for military operations.
According to the manufacturers, the submarine can reportedly accommodate 10 passengers, carry up to 3,000 kilograms on water and has a curb weight of around 10,000 kilograms. The Kronos submarine’s maximum speed is 80 kph on water and can also operate underwater at speeds of up to 50 kph. Its working depth is up to 100 meters and it can achieve a maximum critical depth of 250 meters. It can be operated remotely, and its operational range is 1,000 kilometers.
In terms of energy, the submarine can run on diesel or battery, and once it is fully charged it can run for 18 hours on battery alone. The generator can run it for 36 hours, giving it a total of 54 hours of operational time in hybrid mode.
According to Interesting Engineering, the most important feature is its ability to make an instantaneous 180-degree turn at full speed, which Highland Systems claims is the first in the world to be able to do so.
Kronos is shaped similarly to a manta ray, which makes it stealthier and much more agile than the classic elongated oval-shaped underwater submarines that are commonly used worldwide. The electric engine and sonar-absorbing coating make it a dangerous stealth craft, according to Highland Systems.
The submarine can launch torpedoes, and even closely approach slow-moving or moored enemy ships and attach magnetic mines to be detonated from a safe distance.
While its top speed makes it difficult for enemy vessels to chase and overpower it using its weaponry, it is ultimately its ability to turn rapidly and sink straight to the ocean bed that makes Kronos such a formidable tool and weapon.
