Saab has unveiled a very cool and slightly terrifying advanced stealth submarine with a "GHOST mode", which allows it to remain "effectively invisible" on underwater missions.

The Kockums A26 combines stealth, endurance and versatility and has been specially designed by the car manufacturer for the Swedish Navy. It can dive to depths of 200m, with 26 crew members on board. The GHOST technology -- which stands for Genuine HOlistic STealth -- renders the sub impossible to spot during "silent service".

"In the Kockums A26 submarine, an extremely resilient platform technique incorporating extensive rubber mountings and baffles is used to minimise noise from operating machines and transient noise, as well as absorbing shocks. To further reduce emitted noise, the space between the frames is equipped with acoustic damping plates," explains Saab

The design of the sub has also been optimised to ensure it remains as invisible as possible. It has a unique hull shape and fin design, which along with a new type of surface acoustic absorption and reflective coating, minimises hydrodynamic signatures and flow noise around the craft.

The submarine has a modular design that allows for a great deal of operational flexibility and ease of upgrades. One of these modules is a "Multimission Portal", which lets divers enter and exit the craft while it is submerged. Eight divers at a time can be contained in the portal.There is an extensive list of missions the submarine has been designed to undertake, including maritime security and intelligence operations, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, and covert mine laying.

Quelle: WIRED

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Quelle: SAAB