Heading back to the South China Sea (article in The Times):-
China’s underwater robots can attack enemy vessels without human guidance
China is developing underwater robots that can lurk in the sea and identify and attack enemy vessels without the guidance of human beings.
A newly published scientific paper describes tests in which an underwater drone was able to detect a dummy submarine and successfully strike it with a torpedo, relying on artificial intelligence rather than the instructions of an operator.
The experiments took place more than a decade ago in the strait dividing mainland China from the self-ruling island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. They are being revealed at a time of anxiety about a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, apparently to send a signal that any defence of the island by the United States and its allies would be fraught with risk.
The paper published last week describes work done in 2010 by researchers at Harbin Engineering University, China’s pre-eminent centre of submarine development. The unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was programmed to patrol in a fixed course 30 feet beneath the surface.
When its sonar detected the dummy submarine it altered course and circled the target, using onboard sensors to gather readings, which were analysed by its computer. It fired and hit the dummy submarine with an unarmed torpedo.
“The needs of future underwater warfare bring new development opportunities for the unmanned platforms,” wrote the scientists, led by Professor Liang Guolong, quoted in the South China Morning Post. It can be assumed that in the 11 years since the research described, the capabilities of the UUV have advanced.
Liang wrote that although the underwater robots created by his team worked alone they could be developed to operate in packs. With the right combination of communication systems and artificial intelligence, they could make simultaneous attacks on a common target from different positions.
UUVs are used commercially for maritime surveys, including the mapping of the seabed. They were employed in the unsuccessful hunt for the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
There are no known examples of them being used in combat, but several navies use underwater robots for tasks including surveillance, reconnaissance and mine-sweeping. The US navy is awaiting the delivery next year of four Orcas, giant 26m long and 50t UUVs, made by Boeing.