Ukrainian Engineers' New Submarine Aims To Shape 'Future of Naval Warfare'

A prototype Ukrainian-designed submarine that has been compared to vehicles appearing in Batman films could shape "the future of naval warfare," according to military news outlet Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP).

The "Kronos" sub, which is being developed at the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based firm Highland Systems by Ukrainian designers, has a deep black hue and a shape reminiscent of a stealth aircraft. The SOFREP report published on Tuesday says that the design was "inspired" by the manta ray, a sea creature "renowned for its graceful and efficient movement."

Highland Systems claims that Kronos can make a full 180-degree turn at maximum speed, an extraordinary world first for a vessel that the company touts as the "first gliding submarine." The sub was originally conceived for civilians, before the design was adapted for military use after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

A functional, full-scale prototype of Kronos made its debut at a defense fair in Abu Dhabi in March 2023. However, it is unclear when the vessel may be ready for service. It is so far unproven and the complexity of the design may present maintenance issues.

The price of the vessel is also not known, though Highland Systems says it will be significantly less expensive that conventional military submarines, which typically cost at least hundreds of millions of dollars.

Chief designer Alexander Kuznetsov founded Highland Systems to build Kronos and later moved his team from Ukraine to the UAE due to an ability to "get anything you want" in the Middle Eastern nation, according to an interview with Fast Company. Kuznetsov hopes that the redesigned vessel can be used to target Russia's already embattled Black Sea fleet.

Newsweek reached out for comment to the Ukrainian military via email on Tuesday night.

Kronos is designed to quickly dive to depths of up to 820 feet, but can also operate in shallow water. It is a hybrid-electric design piloted by one person, although Highland Systems says that the sub has the ability to "comfortably accommodate 10 passengers."

With enough power to operate for 54 hours, or 18 hours in battery-only mode, Kronos is equipped with six "Black Scorpion" torpedoes and has top underwater speed of 27 knots, equivalent to U.S. Los Angeles-class "fast attack" nuclear subs. The new sub's ability to move quickly while maneuvering could make it very difficult to eliminate in battle.

SOFREP suggests that the vessel, if it works as hoped, would pose a "significant threat" to traditional subs.

"Its design and functionalities have already sparked discussions about the future of naval warfare," the SOFREP report reads. "The emphasis on agility, affordability, and faster deployment could represent a shift towards a more dynamic and potentially asymmetric approach to underwater combat."

"This could lead to a future where smaller, more agile vessels like Kronos challenge the dominance of traditional, larger submarines," it continues. "Whether it lives up to the hype or not, Kronos has undoubtedly stirred the pot, forcing the world to take notice and consider the evolving landscape of naval warfare."

Highland Systems boasted to Fast Company that just six of the subs could "control the Black Sea."

According to the Highland Systems website, the company is also developing several armored land and amphibious vehicles and a fast trimaran—or three-hulled—superyacht. Additionally, the company advertises an ability to "re-equipment" existing tanks and armored vehicles by replacing their standard engines with a hybrid-electric power source.

Update, 5/1/24, 7:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.