To date, information about Russia’s deep-sea submarine AS-31 Losharik remains highly classified, piquing the interest of the public, especially in the West.
The maximum depth that the AS-31 submarine can reach is three times greater than that of the United States’ Los Angeles-class submarines.
As a reconnaissance submarine, the AS-31 Losharik intrigues Western media due to the scant information available about this weapon. (Source: Twitter)
In 2012, the Russian Navy tested the AS-31 submarine at depths ranging from 2 to 2.5 kilometers, while the U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines can only dive to depths of 1 kilometer.
Thanks to its unique design, the AS-31 Losharik submarine boasts superior capabilities. Its hull is constructed from seven titanium spheres, enhancing the vessel’s resilience. The primary function of the submarine is to operate at the ocean’s depths.
Experts suggest that due to the lightweight and strong properties of titanium, the Losharik submarine can withstand the immense pressure of water.
The AS-31 is named Losharik because its exterior shape resembles a character from a cartoon of the same name, which is a knight made up of small spheres.
The AS-31 Losharik belongs to Project 210, which began construction in 1988 but was stalled due to funding issues until the project was restarted in 2003.
As a reconnaissance submarine, the AS-31 Losharik continues to capture the curiosity of Western media because of the limited information available about this weapon. The AS-31 is tasked with special missions and is not equipped with weapons.
The AS-31 is a small submarine, nearly 60 meters long, with a displacement of 2,100 tons. In comparison, the U.S. Ohio-class submarine has a displacement of 18,750 tons, while Russia’s Belgorod submarine displaces 17,000 tons.
Global public opinion can only speculate and propose various theories about the functions and missions of the AS-31 Losharik submarine.
There are rumors that the AS-31 submarine is used to approach underwater Internet fiber optic cables. These cables are very vulnerable, and a cut cable can lead to serious information disruption, necessitating specialized equipment to extract information from those cables.
In 2019, a fire broke out on the AS-31 submarine, and since then, it has been undergoing repairs, with plans to return to service in 2025.
At the time of the fire, the AS-31 was conducting seabed measurements in Russian territorial waters. Reports indicate that the fire erupted after a loud explosion in the submarine’s battery compartment. At the time of the incident, the submarine was at a depth of 300 meters. Out of the 25 crew members, 14 lost their lives, notably, all of them were officers.
Western experts note that among the 14 officers who perished on the AS-31, seven were senior officers, further intensifying public suspicion that the mission the AS-31 was undertaking was both dangerous and significant.
