Key Points from WSJ Tech News Briefing
Why Underwater?
- Naval Conflicts: Rising concerns about potential naval conflicts in the Asia Pacific are driving innovation.
- Subsea Infrastructure: Protecting critical undersea cables and pipelines from threats is a growing priority.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Autonomous underwater drones can fulfill some roles traditionally reserved for submarines, offering a cheaper alternative.
Emerging Applications
- Surveillance and Intelligence: Tracking surface ship movements, analyzing harbors, and mapping the seafloor.
- Defense and Offense: Equipping drones with advanced sensors, cameras, and increased survivability for extended missions.
Leading Innovators and Projects
- Ghost Shark: By Angeral for the Australian Navy.
- Manta Ray: Developed by Northrop Grumman.
- Orca: Long-range vehicle by Boeing for the US Navy.
- Hearn: BA Systems’ contribution to underwater defense.
Major military powers—including the US, UK, Germany, France, South Korea, China, and Russia—are heavily investing in these technologies, with shorter-range drones already in use and long-range developments underway, according to the podcast.
Reference
Listen to the full episode (Apple podcast link):
WSJ Tech News Briefing: Why the New Frontier for Battle Drones Is Underwater
Explore more (direct link):
WSJ Tech News Briefing Podcast Series
How will underwater drones shape future conflicts?