Title
The unmanned underwater vehicle: An alternative for the SSK or a valuable addition?
Author
Bruggeman, J.C.
Blom, K.C.H.
van Elst, N.
Fitski, H.J.
de Jonge, J.
Kester, L.J.H.M.
Noordkamp, H.W.
Pond, T.
Jansen, E.
Publication year
2018
Abstract
The future of manned submarines is currently in question as a result of rapid developments in autonomy in other fields (e.g. autonomous cars). Therefore, the feasibility of an unmanned submarine, basically a large unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), as a replacement for a conventional diesel-electric submarine (SSK), was investigated. Characteristics (speed, range, endurance, payload capacity, autonomy, reliability) of a hypothetical generic unmanned submarine design were estimated using expert judgement to predict the state of the art of critical technologies (energy storage, artificial intelligence, etc.) that might be available beginning in 2027. Next, the operational performance of this future unmanned submarine was evaluated using a set of operations that are typical for an SSK. This evaluation showed that an unmanned submarine will not be able to replace the SSK beginning in 2027. Smaller UUVs, however, could be a valuable addition to an SSK.
Subject
UUV
Operational performance
Design characteristics
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8d060986-d7b4-46c3-a705-924a0a765d01
TNO identifier
867438
Source
Undersea Defence Technology, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 26-28 June 2018
Document type
conference paper