Fugue

Photo courtesy of Scientific and Industrial Group "IACS"

Fugue is a Russian unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed as a communication relay for nuclear ballistic submarines.  In 2016, Mikhail Rubtsov, head of the research and production group IACS, told the Russian outlet Izvestia that Fugue is currently being tested at the Ministry of Defense Robotics (RT GNIITS). The autonomous vehicle is propelled via wave motion, similar to the Liquid Robotics Wave Glider.

The vehicle reportedly uses an acoustic modem to communicate underwater with strategic nuclear ballistic missile submarines. The Fugue can transmit oceanographic, weather, and tactical signals to the submarines.