Russia to buy Scorpio underwater robots after rescue of trapped sub

WAR.WIRE

Russia to buy Scorpio underwater robots after rescue of trapped sub
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AFP) Aug 09, 2005
The Russian navy plans to acquire two unmanned Scorpio underwater robots after a British rescue team used one of the devices to free a Russian mini-submarine trapped for three days under the Pacific Ocean, the commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet said Tuesday.

"Along with the two Scorpios, the navy would also buy technical support necessary for this equipment as it is incompatible with Russian technology," Viktor Fyodorov told the ITAR-TASS news agency, adding that the two robots would be handled by Russian experts.

The sophisticated Scorpio-45 underwater robot Sunday managed to free the Russian Priz AS-28 vessel from nets and equipment in which it had become snagged 190 meters (625 feet) underwater, with just hours of oxygen supplies left for the seven submariners on board.