![]() ![]() ![]() Masking techniques such as the use of rubber tiles also reduced the noise made by a submarine’s propulsion systems the main factor that makes a submarine vulnerable to enemy sonar detection. AIP reduced the SSK’s need for frequent access to atmospheric oxygen required by the diesel-electric engines. Air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology allowed conventionally powered diesel-electric (SSK) submarines to remain underwater for longer durations than usual. The propulsion revolution did not stop there. The new technology transformed the submarine from a fast-surface vessel with limited underwater capabilities to a fully submerged vessel capable of prolonged movement and combat without the need to resurface for extended periods. However, the Cold War witnessed the true revolution when, in 1954, the USS Nautilus, a nuclear-powered submarine, was launched. Since then, submarines have evolved World War I and World War II made them a force to be reckoned with. The first mission was conducted during the American Revolutionary War in 1776 when a US submersible craft named Turtle attempted to sink the Royal Naval Ship HMS Eagle at anchor in New York’s port. Submarines brought their own revolution to maritime warfare when they became part of active naval operations. The rise of the submarine – from Turtle to Nautilus General Atomic’s MQ-9B Sea Guardian (GA-ASI picture). This will usher in a shift in Strategic Stability that will have an impact on the future conduct and character of war at sea. 1 The change will make submarines, a platform known for their second-strike capability, far more vulnerable. The recent introduction of General Atomic’s MQ-9B Sea Guardian UAV is a clear sign that a revolution in ASW is on the horizon – bringing about what Colin Grey termed ‘a radical change in the character or conduct of war’ – in this case, the war at sea. The shift will be significant, as submarines have been notoriously difficult to find and target. Using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as the MQ-9B Sea Guardian, in anti-submarine roles will significantly alter how ASW is conducted. Amidst the advancements in artificial intelligence, hypersonic missiles, quantum computing, cyberattacks, and lethal autonomous weapons, there is one aspect that has been overlooked in the current discourse on the revolution in military affairs (RMA) – the new revolution in anti-submarine warfare (ASW). ![]()
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