Underwater Drones and the Future of Naval Warfare || Apr. 24, 2026

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What about the Manta Ray? The way that underwater drones could be deployed to patrol and entire ocean autonomously is really interesting

The beard of knowledge must be maintained.

Australian is currently developing the Ghost Shark with Anduril. A high-tech, extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-AUV) developed by Anduril Australia for the Royal Australian Navy. It is a long-range, stealthy, AI-driven drone submarine built for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and strike missions, with the first units expected to be operational in 2026.

During WWII, merchant marine ships had deck guns operated by Navy personnel. Time to move up the concept to the 21st century. RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM), RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM), Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), and mariners with Pew Pews.

For surface drones I would say that phalanx guns would be highly effective, especially with automated tracking systems. A last ditch effort could be rocket or steam launched good old depth charges. Don’t laugh - there’s a lot of rusting subs on the sea floor.

Iran does not need submarines to launch underwater drones in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf. China is supplying the technology for these drones to Iran to see how well they work against US navy ships.

Humans need to take a step back from technology in general, now. We can't be trusted to use this stuff. Do a video on UAP, classified secrets, over-classification, and government transparency aka democracy. Please. We need a rational take on what is driving us to the brink.

10 years younger without it

sometimes you overreact with this security breakdown

Some thoughtful observations here, thanks Peter. The potential for smart underwater drones designed as submarine hunter killers still worries me though. The US subsea nuclear deterrent has long been our triad ace in the hole. That makes our Ohio and soon Columbia class submarines an apex target for our adversaries. It's hard, for me at least, to not see an emerging threat profile distinct from traditional torpedos. I'd bet a Five Guys burger and fries that DARPA's best and brightest are already working on new concepts to detect and defend against smaller, more erratically moving, and potentially swarming threats that are different from anything our submarines have ever faced before.

Shave and a hair cut & your two bits! Nice

Underwater mine laying drones, then all the sea routes will be mined, and then we'll need mine clearing drones. And sea cable cutting drones. Poison the waters so you can't eat seafood drones.

So. A thought. Will this end the policy of merchant ships to transmit their positions?

I can’t hear anything without the beard

There are current constraints that limit what submarine drones can do. History has proven that people have a way of addressing and modifying or removing those barriers when it becomes advantageous to do so. I expect that to recur.

Will we need to mount weapons on cruise ships as well?

Is the Suez Canal within their missile range?

What about somewhat submersible maritime drones combined with aerial drones? Basically a similar mothership solution that ukraine has been using in the air. A drone carrier in practice?

Check out the autonomous ship company Saronic.

ORCA - https://www.boeing.com/defense/autonomous-and-unmanned-systems/xluuv launch and leave until called for

Hey Peter, How will China’s fall affect the cost and production of drones?

Tariffs on beards?

I'm a bit surprised there are no paradigm-changing defensive or counter weapons to drone tech above, on, or below water. Drones are kind of flimsy. It doesn't take much to stop them, if you can hit them. Close range, old-timey shotguns work. After that, all kinds of very pricey weapons come into play: Patriot missiles ($3M++/shot), Lasers ($400M /weapon,$50/shot), APKWS II Rockets ($65k/shot). It's a field that needs work at least as much as assault drones. (Shahed $35k/unit or less) (It seems to me, the trick is tracking and guidance, not so much the part that goes bang.) Obligatory beard comment: So, who's the new guy?

Acoustic signatures could be used instead of optics underwater

Peter looks far too clean cut here

Who took your beard peter, we will avenge you!

I didn’t recognize this clean shaven young man. You look 20 years younger.

Omg Hobbes and DW are gonna be so excited about this.

Wait, what?? Who is this young man???