US installs silent engine on submarine

The US Navy has tested a new generation engine on a submarine that makes no noise at all.

Here's What We Know

As part of the modernisation trials, a new magnetohydrodynamic drive (MHD) was installed on the Virginia-class submarine USS Montana, which does not emit any sound during operation.

The submarine's appearance and characteristics are currently being kept secret, but it is known that the propulsion system is located inside the hull, which means there is no traditional propeller. According to British experts, the only external signs of the upgraded USS Montana are probably the large-diameter horizontal water intake holes in the bow.

Flashback

Magneto-hydrodynamic engine technology began to spread in the middle of the last century, but it has not been developed to date. The drive is based on superconducting magnets that create a magnetic field that maintains traction. The engine has no moving parts and does not generate waves, so it is completely silent. This makes it harder to detect on passive sonar.

Source: Naval News