Fincantieri presented to IDEX in Abu Dhabi its latest light submarine S800, designed for covert operations in shallow water and which would have already attracted the interest of many possible buyers.
Created following the model of the much larger S1000 submarine, the S800 is smaller with 51 meters long and 10 meters high but has similar capabilities and is equipped with many of the same technologies as the ‘twin’.
It can accommodate 18 crew members and operate at depths of up to 250 meters with a diving autonomy of 7 days without the need to re-emerge. “Its size and hull characteristics make it operationally the most suitable strategic asset to support special forces operations,” the experts explain. And Pakistan would have already shown interest in this new jewel signed by Fincantieri.
The S800 has five 533mm torpedo tubes (instead of the six for the S1000). It features an automated platform control system with four X-shaped stern rudders, configured to increase the efficiency of the propellers and ensure greater maneuverability. The silent operation of the fuel cell system also keeps the submarine’s acoustic footprint to a minimum, a key feature for the type of missions it is intended to perform.
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