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SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Rubin Design Bureau, a prominent Russian shipbuilding company, has presented the Indian Navy with an innovative hybrid vessel concept known as the Border and Offshore Submersible Sentry (BOSS). The BOSS project, which uniquely merges the functions of a submarine with those of a surface patrol vessel, aims to fulfil both peacetime and combat roles for the Indian Navy or Coast Guard. With a particular focus on multi-functionality, BOSS could serve as an asset for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and training missions.

The BOSS vessel represents the largest variant in Rubin’s hybrid fleet, with an impressive length of 72 meters and a surface displacement of approximately 1,300 tons. Its considerable size enables it to host a range of capabilities typically reserved for specialized military platforms.

Here are some of the vessel’s defining features:

  1. Advanced Hull Design: The BOSS uses a wave-piercing bow and a tumblehome hull, which improve its stability as a weapons platform, reduce roll, and enhance radar stealth. These design elements collectively allow the vessel to maintain a lower profile and reduced radar cross-section, critical for covert operations.
  2. Enhanced Sonar and Drag Reduction: The BOSS is equipped with a bow bulb that reduces surface drag and houses a sonar array, which operates in improved conditions for detection capabilities. This feature enhances its anti-submarine warfare potential, enabling it to track submarines and other underwater threats effectively.
  3. High-Powered Propulsion: Powered by a robust propulsion system, the vessel can reach speeds of up to 21 knots, making it versatile for quick deployment and responsive manoeuvres.
  4. Extended Range: Designed with an operational cruising range of 4,000 miles at 10 knots, BOSS can be customized for even longer missions at the customer’s request, which adds value for extended patrols in large coastal or offshore areas.

In response to shifting demands and reduced defence budgets, the BOSS design addresses the need for a versatile, cost-effective solution that combines the roles of both surface and underwater vessels. Rubin officials emphasize that BOSS was created to provide naval forces with flexibility, particularly useful in peacetime but capable of evolving into a combat unit if required.

This dual functionality is particularly relevant as the vessel’s diving capability allows it to undertake patrol and surveillance missions that can be conducted stealthily below the surface. Such hybrid versatility not only reduces the operational costs associated with deploying multiple types of vessels but also opens up possibilities for innovative patrol techniques and discreet coastal defence strategies. Additionally, the BOSS can be used in anti-submarine exercises and for training submarine crews, making it an attractive asset for navies worldwide.

Rubin Design Bureau is actively seeking partnerships with Indian companies for the development and manufacture of the BOSS platform tailored to India’s specific requirements. Rubin officials have also expressed interest in engaging with third-country markets for this innovative vessel type. For India, which maintains a vast coastline and faces increasing regional maritime challenges, the BOSS could serve as a strategic platform for both the Navy and Coast Guard. Its capability to patrol territorial waters with surface and submerged options is particularly attractive given India’s extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its role in securing the Indian Ocean Region.

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