The Arktur submarine concept unveiled by the Rubin Central Design Bureau at the Army-2022 forum sparks interest for its ambitions and engineering choices, according to Drive. The coverage notes that Arcturus would share the same overall scale as the Borei-A class ballistic missile submarine, yet feature a noticeably thicker hull to support a more robust pressure hull and payload balance. The analysis also points out that Arcturus could rely on a fully enclosed propulsion module, with jet propulsion replacing traditional propellers to reduce acoustic signatures and improve stealth in operational waters.
Beyond its propulsion choices, the description from Rubin’s design team highlights a flexible payload strategy. Arcturus is described as capable of carrying not only strategic weapons but also unmanned vehicles across multiple classes. Small and medium drones would fit into the ship’s mine sections, while larger, outboard docking arrangements would accommodate bigger unmanned systems. This dual-use concept aligns with a growing trend toward modularity and rapid mission adaptation in next-generation submarines, a topic frequently debated among defense analysts and industry observers alike (Drive).
Official briefings indicate that Arcturus would be about 20 percent shorter than current submarine types, owing to advances in missile packaging and overall airframe efficiency. Specific dimensions given place the length at roughly 134 meters and a beam around 15.7 meters, with a crew complement aimed at about 100 personnel. Rubin’s spokesperson underscored that the first test samples of Arcturus are anticipated not before the latter half of the century, signaling a long development timeline that reflects the scale and ambition of the project (Drive).
Earlier reports likewise touched on regional naval activity in Asia. There were notices about China planning anti-submarine exercises aimed at detecting and countering US Navy submarines operating in the South China Sea. These strategic maneuvers fit into a broader pattern of maritime power projection and fleet optimization across major navies in the Indo-Pacific region, drawing attention to evolving underwater warfare tactics and defense postures (Drive).