Forum makes 'highly advanced' LR-class submarine rescue vehicle
SRV is capable of rescuing up to 17 people at a time.
UK-based Forum Energy Technologies announced on 25 January that it has completed manufacturing a ‘highly advanced’ LR-class submarine rescue vehicle (SRV).
The first-in-class SRV is being packaged and shipped to its final destination imminently before undergoing final sea trials with an unnamed customer in Q1 2021.
The SRV is capable of rescuing up to 17 people at a time and operate at depths of up to 600m. The vehicle has increased power and an advanced auxiliary thruster control system that allows for speeds of up to 4kt, enabling it to operate in high currents. The vehicle is able to attach to submarines at highly precarious angles, above 40 degrees.
Onboard sensors and equipment include a doppler velocity log, fibre-optic gyroscope, sonar and depth sensing. The autopilot function utilises an electric propulsor pivot mechanism and is unique to the LR-class SRV.
The SRV is divided into two sections: a command module for pilots and a rescue chamber for the submarine crew. The rescue chamber can be pressurised as necessary to ensure rescued crew are decompressed. Once on the surface, the vessel latches to a decompression chamber where crew are safely transferred.
Forum claimed that its LR-class SRV surpasses systems manufactured by other suppliers over the last decade, including the NATO Submarine Rescue System and the LR7 system delivered to China.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Babcock wins UK Royal Navy’s Dreadnought support contracts]()
Babcock wins UK Royal Navy’s Dreadnought support contracts
Babcock has won contracts worth more than £120 million to support the development and delivery of the Dreadnought-class submarines for the UK’s Royal Navy.
-
![Make or break: Can the European Patrol Corvette programme save shipbuilding in Europe?]()
Make or break: Can the European Patrol Corvette programme save shipbuilding in Europe?
With funding from the European Defence Fund and partner countries, the European Patrol Corvette programme has an opportunity to become the standard bearer for defence procurement and potentially offer a route forward for naval shipbuilding in Europe.
-
![Portugal contracts Damen for multi-purpose vessel designed for integrated uncrewed air and sea systems]()
Portugal contracts Damen for multi-purpose vessel designed for integrated uncrewed air and sea systems
The new ship’s primary roles will be search and rescue, emergency relief and oceanic research but will also be used for naval support operations and maritime safety.
-
![Kongsberg to develop improved Naval Strike Missile]()
Kongsberg to develop improved Naval Strike Missile
Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile was developed in the early 2000s and delivered to the Norwegian Armed Forces from 2011 to 2015. The new missile will be a collaborative project between Norway and Germany and has been planned to be deployed on both countries' naval vessels.
-
![France orders seven offshore patrol vessels]()
France orders seven offshore patrol vessels
The first offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 10 OPVs are expected to be in service by 2035. They are intended to replace the high seas patrol vessels based in Brest and Toulon, as well as the Cherbourg public service patrol boats.
