Naval Submarine League’s Post

The next step for the Independence-variant LCS is to ditch the monolithic, single mission module concept and think of these ships like miniature aircraft carriers for unmanned vehicles. Load a variety of unmanned vehicles based on mission to operate above, on, and under the water and go. Change the mix as the mission and technology change. The primary mission is scouting: “At sea better scouting – more than maneuver, as much as weapon range, and oftentimes as much as anything else – has determined who would attack not merely effectively, but who would attack decisively first.” -Wayne P. Hughes, Jr., Fleet Tactics: Theory and Practice, Naval Institute Press, pg. 173, 1986.

China’s intelligence gathering network has achieved a significant technological breakthrough that could drastically reshape the future of sea battles. In a secret location, an acoustic sensor array deployed on the seabed at a depth of 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) has successfully detected and tracked a fixed-wing aircraft flying at an altitude of 5,000 metres above the sea level. This groundbreaking deep sea radar has the potential to turn China’s submarines from prey to predator in the game of anti-submarine warfare.

My #GhostFleet moment of the day: "In the GPS-addicted Navy, an analog voyage over long distances is a novel concept." It's well worth your time to read this essay in the January issue of U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. The threat to GPS and other PNT systems continues to grow. Focusing on what can be done relatively easily at an individual or unit/ship level to offset that operational risk should remain (or become) a priority. There's trade space, of course, with the 24 hours in a day we all have. Making time for the fundamentals of figuring out where you are and, therefore, what you should do next will matter more and more for increasingly networked warfare. Connectivity breeds cognitive vulnerability as much as it creates tactical and strategic opportunities. https://lnkd.in/et64BC5e #GPS #China Peter W. Singer

Oceanic Guardians: Unveiling Project #Abyss - Uniting Marine Research and National Security The United States military has unveiled Project #Abyss, a groundbreaking alliance between marine research and national defense. This innovative endeavor represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of the ocean's depths, harnessing unmanned submersibles to illuminate the mysteries of marine life with unparalleled precision. The significance of Project #Abyss transcends scientific inquiry, as it also serves as a potent tool for enhancing national security. By deploying unmanned submersibles to patrol strategic maritime regions, the United States military establishes a robust presence beneath the waves, deterring potential adversaries and safeguarding vital interests. In essence, Project #Abyss embodies the convergence of exploration and protection, forging a symbiotic relationship between marine research and national security objectives. With this project, the United States charts a course towards a more sustainable and secure future, where the boundless depths of the ocean remain a source of inspiration and wonder for all mankind. Join us in celebrating this historic milestone in marine research and national security. #ProjectAbyss #OceanicGuardians #MarineResearch #NationalSecurity

As global competition intensifies, investing in innovative, scalable solutions like Dive-XL is essential to maintaining strategic advantage in the maritime domain. China already has the world’s largest navy, propelled by the world’s largest shipbuilding industry, and the United States and its allies and partners will not be able to close the gap in traditional, crewed ships and submarines on a relevant timeline to bolster deterrence in this decade. To complement our enduring force, while reducing reliance on those costly and vulnerable crewed platforms, we must build fleets of low cost, autonomous assets that deliver enhanced capability at a fraction of the cost. Anduril’s Dive-XL is a critical component of that future, and is ready to deliver at scale.

Herne aims to be affordable and autonomous naval combat mass. We were invited to take a look at BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV, an advanced autonomous underwater platform designed for flexibility and adaptability in modern naval operations. This video showcases Herne on the barge, in the water, and navigating—highlighting part of a demonstration of its potential to take on high-risk missions. Thanks to BAE Systems for providing the underwater clip of the submarine in action. Herne is built to be expendable yet highly capable, balancing affordability and mission effectiveness. With modular payload bays and the cutting-edge Nautomate system, it’s designed to adapt to various tasks, from surveillance to deploying advanced effectors like torpedoes and mine neutralisers. This platform is a glimpse into the future of autonomous naval technology. In the next 18 months, BAE Systems plans to integrate an array of cutting-edge effectors to enhance Herne's operational role. These capabilities will transform Herne from an intelligence-gathering platform into a multi-role system capable of addressing a wide range of underwater threats.

A study https://lnkd.in/gyMK2EAg by a #Chinese CSSC research team led by Li Yuhang claims to have found a way to track the stealthiest attack #submarines of the US Navy. The study suggests that submarines moving faster than 20 knots create small waves on the ocean's surface, known as "#surfacewake," https://lnkd.in/gb6AFAcZ which can be detected by ultra-high-resolution #radar. This technology uses #terahertz waves https://lnkd.in/gp7YudxK in the 6G spectrum area and #AI integration to distinguish between the tiny waves created by submarines and other surface disturbances. The findings may have significant implications for U.S. Navy operations, particularly in the #SouthChinaSea, where the USS Connecticut, a Seawolf-class attack submarine, was damaged after colliding with an underwater seamount in October 2021. The submarine was reportedly traveling at 24 knots, which is above the 20-knot threshold identified in Li's research. While the U.S. Navy's capabilities are classified, it is possible (although unlikely) that they possess similar technology, such as the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS) https://lnkd.in/g_pJDNsP on the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which is used for anti-submarine (#ASW) operations.

A model of the LQ-008 Anti-Submarine Rocket-Assisted Torpedo System 🇨🇳. An anti-submarine rocket-assisted torpedo system is a hybrid weapon designed to engage and neutralize underwater threats, such as submarines. It combines the range of a rocket with the precision and lethality of a torpedo, enabling rapid deployment over long distances to effectively counter enemy submarines.