Aries-class submarine
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 GCNS Virgo during sea trials (2012)
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Aries-class guided missile submarine |
| Builders: | Yanmei Shipyard Co. |
| Operators: |
 Grand Chilokveri Navy |
| Preceded by: | Máni class |
| Subclasses: | Ophuichus class |
| Cost: |
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| Built: | 2000–2018 |
| In commission: | 2008–present |
| Planned: | 13 |
| Completed: | 13 |
| Active: | 13 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Nuclear attack submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: | 10.0 m (32 ft 10 inches) |
| Draft: | 9.8 m (32 ft 2 inches) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: | 1 x shaft, pump-jet propulsor |
| Speed: | Classified, over 25 knots (46 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | Unlimited |
| Endurance: | 90+ days |
| Test depth: | Classified, over 400 m (1312 ft) |
| Complement: |
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| Crew: |
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| Armament: |
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The Aries class, also referred to as the Zodiac class or SSN-20 class, is a class of nuclear powered attack submarines (SSN) in service with the Grand Chilokveri Navy.
Development
Design
General characteristics
Power & propulsion
Aries-class submarines are powered by a single Fushan Atomics SS6 pressurised water reactor (PWR), which produces up to 150 MW of thermal power and has a designed lifetime of 25 years without refuelling. As part of cost reduction measures involved in the design of the Aries class, the SS6 reactor's design was developed from and are a modified derivative of the SS5 PWRs used onboard the Leviathan class ballistic missile submarines. Compared to the SS5, the SS6 has an increased energy density and is smaller in size & weight to allow it to be fitted to the smaller diameter hull of the Aries class without compromising the boats' hydrodynamics. The new, reduced plant components, including a new steam generator design, also feature improved corrosion resistance and maintenance, which are intended to reduce costs over the life cycle of the class. While the SS6 retains the natural circulation cooling capability of the SS5, it cannot be operated at power under this setting and is only intended to use it to maintain emergency cooling while shut down.
The Aries class' reactor drives a single shaft, delivering 30 MW or 40,000 shp of power. Similar to the preceding Máni class, the Aries class uses pump-jet propulsors rather than a conventional bladed propeller. The use of a shrouded propulsor significantly reduces the risks of cavitation, and allows for quieter operation.
The Aries class are designed for a top speed of 30 knots (56 km/h) while submerged. However, it was reported in 2007 that the Aries struggled to achieve this design speed as a result of a mismatch between the reactor and the turbine. The Ministry of Defence confirmed in 2012 that the issue had been rectified after Gemini successfully demonstrated her top speed during trials.
Armament
Sensors & countermeasures
Variants
Unique among the rest of her class, Ophuichus was modified for special operations and classified intelligence missions by the insertion of a 2,084 tonne Multi-Mission Interface (MMI) hull block behind the sail in place of the standard hull module installed with four Variable Payload Tubes (VPTs). While originally scheduled to be commissioned as normal sometime during 2015, in 2013 Yanmei Shipyard was awarded a ₡1.40 billion credit contract and 2 year extension for a large-scale, mid-construction modification of the Ophuichus to support "classified research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) efforts for notional naval special warfare missions, tactical undersea surveillance, and undersea warfare concepts" without unduly sacrificing the her warfighting capabilities. As a result of the modification, Ophuichus is approximately 5 metres longer and 128 tonnes heavier than other Aries-class submarines. The MMI hull insert is unique in being of a smaller diameter than the rest of the pressure hull i.e. the Ophuichus' hull has horizontal 'hourglass' configuration that narrows the pressure hull down to a 'wasp waist'. As faired over to maintain a smooth hydrodynamic hull shape, significant external volume is available outside the pressure hull for storage and deployment of mission systems. The section is fitted with an ocean interface for divers and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Ophuichus is also fitted with additional maneuvering devices fitted at the fore and aft of the hull which allow her to maintain a stationary position in varying currents. According to intelligence experts, it is likely that these allow the MMI to be operated as an underwater splicing chamber for tapping undersea fibre-optic cables. When questioned in 2016, a GCN spokesman refused to either confirm or deny whether such missions would be performed by the Ophuichus, saying: "That sort of information's going to be classified by nature."
Service history
Boats in class
| Name | Hull No. | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | SSN-20 | Yanmei Shipyard Co., Yanmei | 2 September 2000 | 16 August 2006 | 23 October 2008 | Active in service |
| Taurus | SSN-21 | 27 August 2002 | 17 June 2008 | 5 May 2009 | Active in service | |
| Gemini | SSN-22 | 30 April 2003 | 21 February 2009 | 25 October 2009 | Active in service | |
| Cancer | SSN-23 | 27 September 2003 | 20 November 2009 | 31 July 2010 | Active in service | |
| Leo | SSN-24 | 9 June 2005 | 15 September 2011 | 2 June 2012 | Active in service | |
| Virgo | SSN-25 | 11 May 2006 | 10 December 2011 | 25 October 2012 | Active in service | |
| Libra | SSN-26 | 2 June 2007 | 8 August 2012 | 29 October 2013 | Active in service | |
| Scorpio | SSN-27 | 7 March 2008 | 29 December 2013 | 17 March 2014 | Active in service | |
| Ophuichus | SSN-28 | 4 April 2008 | 14 October 2015 | 2 February 2017 | Active in service | |
| Sagittarius | SSN-29 | 31 January 2011 | 6 January 2016 | 27 August 2017 | Active in service | |
| Capricorn | SSN-30 | 22 October 2012 | 8 June 2017 | 1 March 2018 | Active in service | |
| Aquarius | SSN-31 | 14 September 2013 | 1 September 2017 | 11 December 2018 | Active in service | |
| Pisces | SSN-32 | 5 December 2014 | 13 May 2018 | 19 February 2019 | Active in service |