Silent Running: Russia's Submarines to Become Absolutely Noiseless

Russia's Scientific-Production Concern "Mechanical Engineering" (Tekhmash) will cover Russia's nuclear and diesel submarines with a special rubber coating, making them indistinguishable to acoustic equipment from the general noise of the sea, according to the company's press release.

"The Concern has got a contract for production of a rubber coating for the next five years. The hydro-acoustic layers designed by Russia's defense association "Cheboksary production association n.a. V.I. Chapaev" will camouflage the submarines due to their high noise-attenuating character. The Concern launched high-tech productions to make the layers in 2016," the statement says.

Speaking about the camouflage layers designed by his association, Cheboksary's Director General Alexander Livshits told journalists that the developers were able to mimic the sound of the sea. The special coating makes all types of submarines absolutely invisible to acoustic equipment.

In compliance with Russia's program on the modernization of the country's fleet, submarines of Borei-class (NATO Reporting Name Dolgorukiy class), Yasen-class ("ash tree"; NATO reporting name "Severodvinsk") and Varshavyanka-class (NATO reporting name the Kilo class) will receive the high-tech coating.

The Concern specializes in the production of various acoustic coatings for diesel, diesel-electric and nuclear submarines.