US Navy is testing a new concept of supplying submarines using drones

22

The US Navy is exploring new possibilities for the use of UAVs. This time drones it is supposed to be used to supply submarines during campaigns.

In 2019, the US Navy was already testing the possibility of transferring cargo from one submarine to another using marine helicopters. aviation. Now it's the turn and drones to implement a new concept. An unmanned aerial vehicle delivered a small payload to the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson.



The submarine followed in the Pacific Ocean, near the Hawaiian Islands. The naval command said that this was a test of new concepts for organizing the supply of submarines while on patrol.

Thanks to this replenishment scheme, it is possible to maintain the reserves of the underwater fleet anytime and anywhere in the world. Consequently, the overall readiness of the US strategic forces is also increasing. At the same time, the US Navy Command did not specify what kind of payload the drone delivered to the submarine. Some footage shows the drone being launched from a small boat of an unknown type.

However, the lack of information about the nature of the payload on the UAV prevents analysts from drawing more specific conclusions about how useful the new supply concept will be. But on the whole, it seems to be quite interesting, with potential at least in the sphere of moving small but critical cargo, such as medicines or food.

In addition, with the help of a drone, orders, reconnaissance information and other data on physical media can be transmitted to submarines. Such a scheme frees from the risks of radio interception by enemy forces. That is why the Pentagon believes that the supply of submarines with the help of drones will be especially relevant in relation to strategic submarines of the Ohio class, which are armed with ballistic missiles and have been on campaigns for months. For example, with the help of drones, it will be possible to transmit an order to launch a missile strike at a certain point, and this order will not be intercepted by enemy electronic warfare means.

This is how the delivery of cargo using a drone to a submarine looked like:



However, as noted by Joseph Trevithick of The Drive, the proposed concept is far from perfect. First of all, submarines become vulnerable, which need to go out and move along the surface to receive cargo or information from a drone. The location of the vessel from which the UAV is launched in the immediate vicinity of the submarine's location also significantly increases the risk of its detection by the enemy. The way out of this situation could be the development of such drones that could sink under water.

Control and communication channels between the UAV and its operator may also be under threat. Therefore, the further development of the concept of supplying submarines with the help of drones will be inextricably linked with a general increase in the autonomy of unmanned aerial vehicles.

In addition, drones will not be the only way to deliver information and cargo for submarines and surface ships of the US Navy anyway. For example, the day after the drone's cargo delivery capabilities were tested, the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from the 37th Naval Attack Helicopter Squadron performed a similar action.

In any case, the implementation of the new concept of supplying submarines and ships will significantly improve the efficiency of the US Navy's operations in the Pacific and Arctic regions. The importance of new methods of delivery of cargo and information will increase as the duration of the stay of ships on campaigns and as the number of warships and submarines in the US Navy grows.
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22 comments
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  1. -2
    22 October 2020 12: 13
    "Thanks to this replenishment scheme, it is possible to maintain the reserves of the submarine fleet at any time and anywhere in the world."
    Stocking up burgers and cola?
    Besides messaging.
    Or maybe, including not flying drones, but surface and underwater ones?
    Then supplies can be more serious.
    1. +4
      22 October 2020 12: 22
      Judging by the color of the box in the video, the quadcopter delivered a Xiaomi phone from Aliexpress to the submarine smile
      1. -1
        22 October 2020 20: 04
        But delivering a bottle of whiskey is quite possible smile
        Drones come in many different varieties. Different carrying capacity.
        I believe that the problem of supplying submarines on the high seas is not in the delivery itself, because the same helicopter can also deliver a container from the nearest floating base. The problem is how, without an overhead crane, the crew can reload the submarine inside.
        So the maximum that even a heavy drone can deliver - that a couple of sailors can lift. That is, food, parcels from home, medicines - perhaps. You can forget about the supply of fuel, torpedoes and missiles.
    2. +4
      22 October 2020 12: 23
      And you can also remember about carrier pigeons. And to allocate so many bucks for this ... you will be too busy to master. wassat And so, with a drone, a cold beer for a cap from the nearest aircraft carrier to carry a very necessary system.
      1. +1
        22 October 2020 13: 28
        send orders to submarines,
        Quote: NDR-791
        homing pigeons remember

        Then dolphins are better ... winked
        1. +1
          22 October 2020 13: 39
          So I think ... But we will not slip them a competent thought, there is nothing to bother, let them think wassat
  2. -1
    22 October 2020 12: 49
    Not a bad idea, by the way.
    The drone is launched to an ocean point via GPS autonomously, without radio communication.
    The arrival of the drone and the emergence of the submarine can be synchronized up to minutes.
    It is not necessary to fly back to the drone. It can be pulled into the sub with folded wings.
    And the instructions are transmitted quite unnoticed.
    1. 0
      22 October 2020 12: 57
      A sensible idea, especially in the Arctic. lol
      1. 0
        22 October 2020 12: 58
        In the Arctic, you will have to look for wormwood. smile
        1. +3
          22 October 2020 14: 02
          Quote: voyaka uh
          In the Arctic, you will have to look for wormwood. smile

          And then ask the Russians to help free themselves from the ice hole smile
    2. +3
      22 October 2020 13: 02
      Quote: voyaka uh
      Not a bad idea, by the way.
      The drone is launched to an ocean point via GPS autonomously, without radio communication.
      The arrival of the drone and the emergence of the submarine can be synchronized up to minutes.
      It is not necessary to fly back to the drone. It can be pulled into the sub with folded wings.
      And the instructions are transmitted quite unnoticed.

      What nonsense is it that can be conveyed in this way, poison for the whole team? Order, data, instructions? So this is done with a narrow-beam antenna from a satellite to a certain point in the ocean, in a compressed packet the signal goes for a fraction of a second. And how long can this drone fly over the ocean 100-200 km, and weather conditions, and how does it navigate in the ocean?
      1. -2
        22 October 2020 14: 17
        "a narrow-beam antenna from the satellite to a specific point in the ocean, in a compressed packet the signal goes for a fraction of a second" ///
        ----
        But it is also intercepted in a split second. And hacker decryption will take another ... a minute or two (in the Chinese army, whole battalions of hackers sit behind computers in rows smile ).
        The drone, of course, can disappear into the ocean, but if it has already flown, then confidentiality is guaranteed.
        1. +5
          22 October 2020 14: 24
          Quote: voyaka uh
          But it is also intercepted in a split second.

          To intercept such a packet, you must at least approach the submarine by 10 km and know the time.
          Quote: voyaka uh
          And hacker decryption will take another ... a minute or two

          Don't say more such nonsense
          Quote: voyaka uh
          The drone, of course, can disappear into the ocean, but if it has already flown, then confidentiality is guaranteed.

          And if he was landed by electronic warfare, those problems, lost his course, weather conditions, then the enemy receives not just a signal, but also the original order ............... well, generally great.
    3. -1
      22 October 2020 13: 43
      Yes, the trick is stealth, a drone is much harder to spot than a ship. Cheaper than helicopters and safer.
  3. -1
    22 October 2020 13: 35
    The Japs tested the drone - they carried a load of two zinc for almost fifty kilometers.
    The sailors will test it, and the military command and the army can also use it.
    The Yankee livestock per sub is roughly 100 snouts. The dry weight of the daily allowance of food is 1,5 kg / person = 150 kg / steamer.
    The emergence of drones with a payload of up to 200 kg and a radius of up to 100 km will be a new BMT for both the fleet and ground warriors.
  4. +1
    22 October 2020 13: 57
    But by the way, a thought, suddenly someone will come in handy. I read that Ohio is patrolling in one area, for which there is an accurate seabed map, measuring 200 * 200 miles. If, during the threatened period, Poseidon is sent there, or better two, and shandarah, then their positioning will go wrong?
  5. +2
    22 October 2020 14: 07
    you can maintain the stocks of the submarine fleet at any time and in any point of the world.
    belay fool The emotions of the US Navy from the prospects are already overwhelming, already blowing away the head. Supply from your shores, and from strangers, still test and test ...
  6. 0
    22 October 2020 14: 20
    What is small, space-x let the range and load deliver much more.
  7. 0
    22 October 2020 18: 11
    doshik will be delivered)
  8. +16
    22 October 2020 19: 01
    Judging by the latest articles, drones are already penetrating all areas
  9. 0
    22 October 2020 21: 33
    trash is the whole idea !!!
  10. 0
    22 October 2020 21: 35
    Quote: spech
    What is small, space-x let the range and load deliver much more.

    maximum - toilet paper for the entire crew (diapers).

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