The Defense Ministry plans to spend 729 million rubles ($24.5 million) on eight underwater drones made by Icelandic firm Teledyne Gavia, according to an order posted on the ministry's website.

Applications of so-called unmanned underwater vehicles include surveillance, clearing mines and anti-submarine warfare.

Teledyne Gavia, formerly known as Hafmynd Ehf, has been developing underwater drones since 1997.

Russia has struggled in recent years to produce sophisticated aerial drones of its own, instead purchasing Israeli technology for its armed forces.

Last month it was reported that the Defense Ministry had invested 5 billion rubles ($158 million) in state-owned holding Russian Helicopters to develop three new types of aerial drones that are expected to be completed by 2015.

(MT)