Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov, centre, and Kamchatka Governor Mikhail Mashkovtsev, left, attend the briefing on the successful rescue AS-28 mini-submarine. The mission was held near Kamchatka and lasted about 48 hours.
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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Russia to Buy Scorpio Deep Divers
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov has decided to buy in the UK two remote-controlled, deep-diving Scorpio submersibles for search and rescue missions of the Russian Navy, Pacific Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral Viktor Fedorov told reporters Tuesday, August 9. According to data available to Kommersant, the submersibles will be stations in Georgy Kuzmin and Sayan rescue vessels based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski and Vladivostok respectively.
The decision on Scorpios’ purchase was taken after the unmanned British Scorpio-45 remotely-operated vehicle cut free a Russian AS-28 mini-submarine entangled in cables and fishing nets at the depth of 190m in the Pacific Ocean, having saved the crew of seven sailors. Ivan Goncharenko, deputy general director of the state-run Rosoboronexport said the request of Defense Ministry for two Scorpios (with the overall value of $3.16 million) has not been received yet, nevertheless, he is sure the above submersibles will be bought in no time. Under fire over the efforts to save a mini-submarine trapped in the Pacific last week, Russia’s Navy has no vessels with specification at least in line with the Scorpio underwater vehicles.
A source with the General Naval Staff told Kommersant Scorpios will be stationed in Georgy Kuzmin and Sayan rescue ships. Besides, nearly 200 million rubles will be additionally allocated to upgrade AS-28 and to buy accumulator units for AS-25 and AS-32 mini-submarines, according to data available to Kommersant.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 10, 2005
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