RUSSIA has unveiled its new drone submarine that could change sea warfare forever.

The Surrogat will carry high tech equipment allowing it to scramble sonar signals and play havoc with Nato navies.

6 Russia has announced a new drone sub that could wreak havoc with Nato navies by scrambling sonars and drawing rival subs into the open Credit: Rubin Central Design Bureau

6 The sub's announcement is part of premier Vladimir Putin's drive to modernise his fleet amid rising tensions with the West Credit: Corbis

It can also act like a nuclear submarine, fooling enemy subs into revealing their position as they track what they believe is one of Vladimir Putin's hunter-killer vessels.

The forty-tonne Surrogat will be able to travel more than 600 miles at a time and carry out top-secret mission 600 metres below the waves.

It could even act as a decoy, drawing Royal Navy ships towards it while Russian nuke subs creep down the English Channel.

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The sub's designer Igor Vilnit told Russian new agency TASS that it "will help realistically reproduce an enemy submarine's physical fields - acoustic and electromagnetic.

"Today, combat submarines have to be involved for exercises or tests and this practice distracts them from carrying out their basic missions.

"The use of an unmanned imitator will help avoid this and cut the cost of drills. Besides, a submarine without a crew reduces risks while keeping simulated scenarios realistic."

6 President Vladimir Putin has already indicated he wants to invest in high-tech equipment for Russia's armed forces Credit: Getty Images

6 Among the fearsome array of weaponry in the pipeline include a robotic drone tank

He added: "This apparatus will be distinguished by its simplicity in operation and the low cost of its maintenance and upgrade.

"Now we're holding consultations with Navy representatives to make the imitator fully meet the Navy's requirements."

Russia is understood to be negotiating a price for the elaborate subs as part of its drive towards a tech-driven armed forces.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to modernise and create “intelligent weapons”, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister has warned.

The announcement comes just months after the country's rustbucket aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was mocked as it belched out acrid smoke while steaming through the English Channel towards Syria.

But Dmitry Rogozin says Russia is ready to unleash a high-tech military within years.

6 The new drone sub could leave the English Channel vulnerable. In October a Russian flotilla steamed through the narrow strait as Putin thumbed his nose at the Royal Navy Credit: EPA

6 The giant Admiral Kuznetsov was on its way to the Mediterranean where it has since joined Russia bombing campaign on forces opposed to embattled dictator Bashar al-Assad Credit: EPA

He told TASS: "Much has been done, we have made major technological progress.

"But everything that has been made was designed in the Soviet era.

"I can feel it in my bones that we won’t be able to advance using only innovations of the past.

"Even the Syrian campaign has shown that the future belongs to robotics and unmanned aircraft.

"We are moving towards intelligent weapons because we need them."

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