Executive overview: Underwater Warfare Systems

The aftermath of the melt-down of the global banking system dominated 2009, with the major economies falling rapidly into worldwide recession. Additionally, political and, therefore, economic prioritising of the continuing military operations in Afghanistan, has left the climate for naval contractors uncertain at best.

Reducing budgets available to naval operations, as expenditure is transferred to land operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere, has meant that different solutions need to be considered for underwater operations.

On the positive side, this continues to present opportunities for those contractors who are seeking innovative and cost-effective solutions in relation to submarine and mine warfare operations. Many technological solutions, in the form of unmanned or autonomous systems, are now becoming available operationally.

Thus, recent trends have shown a significant change in the roles of navies in relation to submarine and mine warfare operations.

Changing Roles

The traditional roles of the submarine were covert attacks on surface shipping, or Cold War dog-fights with other hunter-killer submarines.

Although the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) still provides the larger navies with the ultimate deterrent, the primary roles of submarines have become Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), special forces insertion and the launch of land-attack missiles in support of operations deep inland. Dealing with the threat of terrorism and littoral asymmetric threats now forms the core strategy of many navies.

The impact of this shift in emphasis from open ocean to the littoral region has prompted many navies to reappraise their future requirements, both for submarines and mine warfare vessels. The latter are seen much more in support of offensive operations, reducing the threat to amphibious landings, as well as dealing with threats to a battle group or commercial shipping.