Nations in Focus MT 5/2022 · 49 – as the demand for this kind of systems grows worldwide, especially in the Middle East and Africa. East Asia has great potential as well, but the company would need a strong commercial partner to promote (and later support) its products in that theatre. DRASS recently had an intellectual property quarrel with Indian shipyard MDL, which would have copied the company’s designs for its midgets. Geopolitics are warming up worldwide, and energy crises mean states possessing maritime resources will need to protect them by credibly enforcing their Exclusive Economic Zone. In this, as Cappelletti highlights, “nothing is more threatening than underwater attack capabilities, which in some contexts are a true game changer in the balance of forces amongst strategic competitors”. According to insights MilTech was able to gather, talks are ongoing with several navies for the DS-8 and DG-160 models, while the DG-550 has registered vivid interest amongst potential clients in the MENA region. costs. As far as pricing is concerned, the DG-160 is offered at roughly at one fifth/one sixth of a latest-generation diesel-electric submarine – and is thus affordable for small navies operating in shallow waters. Midgets can be stored off water, in specific hangars conceived for easy maintenance and, consequently, prolonged service life, while safeguarding strategic information about how many boats are at sea at any given time. The DG-160 can also be disassembled and relocated by truck or train. The Compact Submarine Concept DRASS’ technology base, along with innovations developed for the DG-160 SDV, can be easily exploited for bigger boats, such as the DG-550 compact submarine project or bigger designs currently under study. The DG-550 would be 40m long, with a 4.5m beam and a 7.8m height, with a complement of eleven. Its propulsion would be based on one permanent magnet generator (plus one backup generator) and six battery banks, allowing for 16kt maximum submerged speed, 5kt cruise speed, and 9kt surface speed. Maximum operational depth is 250m. The overall expected autonomy is 4,000nm, with a 260nm range of action on batteries only. The DG-550 is proficient in shallow waters, but could operate in blue waters as well. Deterrence and sea denial capabilities would be closer to a traditional SSK, thus with a price tag only 25-30% higher than a DG-160. Operational capabilities would be linearly superior in all aspects. Hence, the boat would deploy four heavyweight torpedoes (plus two optionally mounted externally) and/or eight mines in two sets of four, or a mix of torpedoes and ROVs/AUVs. In commando configurations, it is designed to host up to twelve divers and one large SDV or a large equipment container. Unlike midgets, DG-550 would require traditional docking, but operational and life-cycle costs would remain largely below larger boats, thus enabling navies with modest budget to possess a high-value asset. Concluding Remarks Since its foundation, DRASS has unceasingly represented a point of reference for underwater technology. In the military sector, however, the company has experienced highs and lows due to the peculiar sector it operates in, characterized by secrecy and often politically sensitive. Today, the renaissance of its capability in designing and producing covert state-of-the art underwater systems come at just the right time Exclusive photo of the interior of a DS-160. DRASS is working on a proprietary CMS for midgets and small submarines that provides the client with operational independence from other suppliers. A DS-8 SDV under construction in Romania. (Photo: DRASS)
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