Seabed warfare explained
Seabed warfare is undersea warfare which takes place on or in relation to the seabed.
Overview
Seabed warfare is defined as “operations to, from and across the ocean floor.”[1]
In general the target of seabed warfare is infrastructure in place on the seabed such as power cables, telecom cables, or natural resource extraction systems.[2] [3] Seabed warfare capabilities are expensive and because of that significant capabilities are only possessed by major powers.[4]
Conflicts on the seabed can be both conventional and unconventional, the latter encompassing non-kinetic approaches such as lawfare.[5]
France has integrated seabed warfare into their military strategy with the concept of Seabed Control Operations which involves expanding their existing mine warfare and hydro-oceanography capabilities to deal with a more comprehensive spectrum of threats.[6]
Platforms
The American Block VI Virginia-class submarines will include the organic ability to employ seabed warfare equipment.[7]
The Russian submarine Losharik is thought to be capable of seabed warfare.[8]
The Chinese HSU-001 is a small UUV, speculated to be optimized for seabed warfare.[9]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Carr . Christopher . Franco . Jahdiel . Mierzwa . Cheryl . Shattuck . Lewis B. . Suursoo . Melissa . SEABED WARFARE AND THE XLUUV . calhoun.nps.edu . Naval Postgraduate School . 4 March 2021.
- Web site: Glenney . Bill . THE DEEP OCEAN: SEABED WARFARE AND THE DEFENSE OF UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE, PT. 1 . cimsec.org . Center for International Maritime Security . 4 March 2021.
- Web site: Johnson . Bridget . Russia's 'Seabed Warfare' Could Hit Vast Networks of Underwater Communications Cables . www.hstoday.us . 22 March 2018 . Homeland Security Today . 4 March 2021.
- Web site: Saperstein . Hadrien T. . The Royal Thai Navy's Theoretical Application of the Maritime Hybrid Warfare Concept . centreasia.eu . 12 October 2020 . Centre Asia . 4 March 2021.
- Web site: Cregge . Kyle . FIGHTING FOR THE SEAFLOOR: FROM LAWFARE TO WARFARE . cimsec.org . The Center for International Maritime Security . 4 March 2021.
- Web site: Vavasseur . Xavier . France Unveils New Seabed Warfare Strategy . navalnews.com . 16 February 2022 . Naval News . 16 February 2022.
- Web site: Eckstein . Megan . Navy New Virginia Block VI Virginia Attack Boat Will Inform SSN(X) . news.usni.org . 20 November 2020 . USNI . 4 March 2021.
- News: Roth . Andrew . Fire kills 14 sailors on Russian top-secret navy submersible . The Guardian . 2 July 2019 . 4 March 2021.
- Web site: MAKICHUK . DAVE . Silent running: China embraces undersea warfare . asiatimes.com . 11 March 2020 . Asia Times . 4 March 2021.