SMX 31
Many media outlets have recently taken notice of the amazing French submarine project. As experts correctly point out, submarines are not the direction where many technological revolutions can now be found. However, engineers from the Naval Group did their best to leave the competition behind. The SMX 31 concept has become one of the most unusual ideas of our time. We are talking about the most inconspicuous multi-purpose boat with a multi-hull structure, which has a non-nuclear power plant built on the basis of electrical devices. Outside there will be a light hull of an unusual "bionic" shape, which will make the submarine look like a whale. Due to such a solution, in particular, they want to achieve the best flow around while driving and, of course, to reduce visibility as much as possible. There is no deckhouse (in its usual form), only rudders and a number of other small structures protrude from the hull.
It should be said that this is far from a small submarine, although it is noticeably smaller than such large multipurpose boats as Yasen. According to reports, the SMX 31 will be 70 meters long. The design displacement in the submerged position is 3400 tons. The most surprising thing is that due to extensive automation, the crew should be only fifteen people.
SMX-25
This unusual ship was presented by the French company DCNS at the Euronaval-2010 naval exhibition. Its main feature is that it combines the features of a surface ship and a submarine. That is, we are talking about combining the best qualities of these two types of military equipment. According to the designers, the gas turbine power plant with three water cannons will allow the SMX-25 to accelerate on the surface to a speed of almost 40 knots (approximately 70 km / h), which is comparable to the performance of a number of surface ships of our time. Once it reaches the combat area, the SMX-25 will be able to submerge and operate stealthily like a conventional submarine.
Alas, the submerged speed is not impressive: only ten knots, which cannot be compared with modern submarines. The length of the ship is 110 meters, and the underwater displacement is 3000 tons. They want to equip the submarine with sixteen multifunctional missiles capable of hitting surface, underwater and ground targets. The ship will also receive torpedo tubes. Crew - 27 people.
SMX-26
One of the most unusual concepts of "Euronaval-2012" was the midget submarine SMX 26, which was offered by the same DCNS. The submarine will be 39.5 meters long and 15.5 meters wide. The highest underwater speed will be 10 knots, and the autonomy - up to 30 days. The main feature of the SMX-26 will be the ability to operate in shallow coastal areas, where ordinary large submarines have absolutely nothing to do. For greater efficiency, the submarine was even equipped with wheels. It is assumed that, in combination with its small size, this will allow it to act at depths of less than fifteen meters, attacking targets when they least expect it. To effectively combat boats and ships, the SMX 26 received two heavy and eight light torpedoes. A retractable 20-mm gun is designed to increase firepower in the fight against surface targets. Also, the submarine will be capable of transporting up to six combat swimmers.
It is important to note that the submarine will be able to receive air and recharge batteries using hoses that are thrown to the surface. The main power plant drives two propellers. In addition, there are four additional retractable propellers for increased maneuverability.
Sub 2000
According to Popular Mechanics, researcher H. I. Sutton recently found information about an American submarine with the symbol Sub 2000, an article about which was previously posted by Rear Admiral of the United States Navy Malcolm Fages. Note that Sutton is the founder of the Covert Shores Naval resource and the author of World Submarines: Covert Shores Recognition Guide.
According to him, we are talking about a multipurpose submarine with broad reconnaissance capabilities. Apparently, its length "in iron" can be 80 meters. According to available data, the boat should have received a double-hull architecture, which is very uncharacteristic for the American shipbuilding industry, which gives preference to single-hull boats. Allegedly, they wanted to equip the submarine with an X-shaped steering system and, most likely, a new generation of water jet propulsion, which should contribute to its maximum stealth. The boat has side-mounted torpedo tubes, twelve vertical cruise missile launchers, and can also use a mini-submarine for reconnaissance.
It is worth noting that there is no confirmation of the veracity of the real existence of the project, but even if it was indeed worked out in the States, it probably disappeared long ago. Now the US Navy has completely different priorities, and the Americans see a promising multipurpose submarine more likely as "Seawolf" number two: large, powerful and expensive. In turn, the Sub 2000 is in many ways closer to the economical Virginia.
Nautilus 100
The Nautilus 100, which was presented by the Royal Navy in 2015, looks like an absolutely incredible concept. It is assumed that this giant "ramp" of the distant future will be able to withstand a depth of 1000 meters, and its maximum speed will reach an incredible 150 knots (or 270 kilometers per hour). The crew of the submarine is twenty people. The submarine will be able to use hydrogen-electric engines to move at cruising speeds and a "tunnel" that lets water through itself with the help of a fan and allows it to gain such a high speed. The crew will be able to adjust the depth of the dive with the help of movable flexible wings. "The cherry on the cake" is the control of the boat using a neurointerface, when the submarine can literally read thoughts.
But all this, of course, is very far from reality. Especially the reality of the British Navy, where cost savings have led to the abandonment of catapults aboard the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, reducing their actual capabilities to the level of American amphibious assault ships or even lower.
In general, it must be said that the chances of implementing at least one of the concepts presented above are small. The Europeans and Americans simply showed what individual technical solutions of the future might look like. It cannot be ruled out that one of them will be embodied on a 21st century submarine, which will appear, say, in the 30s or 40s. But definitely not now and not even in ten years.
