Kronos: the Emirati-built, manta ray-shaped submarine with mini torpedoes

The United Arab Emirates is at the forefront of military equipment. Proof of this is Kronos, the futuristic submarine manufactured in the Gulf country by the company Highland Systems, which is shaped like a manta ray and is capable of launching mini torpedoes. 

This armoured submersible has a highly advanced hydrodynamic design, offers high performance, exceptional efficiency and significantly reduces energy costs when submerged, as reported by Highland Systems itself. 

It is a submarine that can accommodate a crew of eleven and has been developed by Highland Systems' highly skilled design, research and development team. This hybrid vessel, which blends diesel and electric power, is suitable for a variety of operations, including rescue and combat operations. The submarine features an innovative hull design that significantly reduces fuel consumption, increases top speed and provides high surface stability. "This brings a completely new concept to submarine production worldwide," according to the Emirati-based British company. 

The submarine's technical characteristics include a width of 7,432 millimetres, a length of 9,025 mm and a height of 2,089 mm, as well as a load capacity of 3,000 kilograms in the water, 10,000 kilograms empty weight, 36 hours of air supply, a maximum water speed of 80 kilometres per hour, a full battery charging time of 1.5 hours, a maximum underwater speed of 50 kilometres per hour, an aerial refuelling of 1.5 hours, a maximum water speed of 30 kilometres per hour, a hybrid electric motor, a working depth of 100 metres, folding transport wings and a critical depth of 250 metres. Its operating autonomy in hybrid mode is 54 hours, in generator-only mode is 18 hours and in battery-only mode is 36 hours. Its electric motor output is 1,200hp/2,400NM and it has adaptive lighting. All this together with an automated life support system and air conditioning system.

In short, Kronos can run on fuel or a hybrid system thanks to an electric motor which, when combined with submersible mode, offers a total autonomy of up to 54 hours. The battery must be charged for a period of 1.5 hours, which is also the amount of time needed to refuel on the surface. 

Kronos is shaped like a manta ray, a type of fish that uses its gigantic fins as wings to glide through the depths of the oceans, which is very striking in the deep sea. Despite its small size, the submarine can accommodate up to eleven crew members, including the pilot, demonstrating its versatility. 

Highland Systems explains of the submarine that "its futuristic, hydrodynamic design delivers high performance, outstanding efficiency and significantly reduces energy costs when submerged". "It features a unique innovative hull design that reduces fuel consumption, increases top speed and provides superior stability," Highland Systems adds.

Its impressive wings can be folded to make it easy to transport, a quality that makes it particularly suitable for rescue tasks in different geographical locations, but it can also be used for warfare purposes thanks to its capacity to hold six mini-torpedoes. It can be submerged to a maximum depth of 250 metres, although it is not recommended to go deeper than 100 metres. It is also worth mentioning its silent navigation mode, which can be used to go unnoticed while navigating on the seabed.

The submersible can be carried in a normal van with the wings folded down, making it easy to transport anywhere in the world and over any terrain.

Despite its dimensions, this submarine is designed to accommodate up to eleven people, as noted above, including the pilot, and can be equipped with a total of six mini torpedoes, three on each side, which could shoot down enemy ships or harbour bases if necessary.