Vityaz-D
Gallery
Overview
Russian full-ocean-depth AUV that made an autonomous dive into the Mariana Trench in 2020.
Vityaz-D is a deep-diving autonomous underwater vehicle built by Russia's Rubin Design Bureau for the Advanced Research Foundation, the country's defence research agency. The bright red, 5.7 m vehicle is rated to 12,000 m, deeper than any point in the ocean. In May 2020 it dived autonomously in the Mariana Trench to 10,028 m and stayed at depth for more than three hours, running a pre-programmed mission without a tether. Russia presents it as a step towards deep-sea research and seabed work by uncrewed vehicles, and the navy has been reported as a future user.
Primary Roles
Notes
About 5.7 m long, 1.4 m in diameter and 5.6 t, with a rated depth of 12,000 m. Built by Rubin for Russia's Advanced Research Foundation, with work starting in September 2017. In May 2020 it dived in the Sea of Japan, the Philippine Sea and the Mariana Trench, reaching 10,028 m and spending more than three hours there on a pre-programmed mission. An upgrade reported in 2023 lets it work continuously in a given area. A forum source gives a speed of about 1 m/s and 24 h endurance, which are not confirmed.
