The US Navy is embarking on a massive program to launch swarms of suicide drones from submarines and unmanned boats. These drones could also be used for reconnaissance.
The war of the future will be that of machines. Whether in airs, on land, on and under the sea, it is the remotely controlled vehicles – or more or less autonomous – which will move as close as possible to the battlefield. The objective is to observe it or to launch other devices or armaments making it possible to collect exact information or to ensure the neutralization missions precisely and in an unstoppable way. There is no shortage of examples and Future has already mentioned on several occasions the tests of these robots, or drones air and sea. In this last area, the US Navy has just signed a big contract with its supplier. Raytheon Missile & Defense, according to a communicated of the Pentagon.
The company will have to supply a multitude of suicide drones based on its model Coyote. They will serve as ammunition evolving in the form of swarms to precisely target enemy postions. To launch them, the US Navy also wants to operate unmanned ships, whether they are boats or submarines. Drones could also be used for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance. The deal with Raytheon is valued at nearly $ 33 million if the defense industrialist manages to supply these combined weapons systems.
Away from the eyes, but closer to the heart of the target
Drones with “suicide” capabilities would represent the third generation of Block Coyote. The drone whose design dates back to 2007 is launched like a warhead from a tube and deploys its wings and a V-tail. This version 2 drone is already being considered by the US military as a drone interceptor. But its design is closer to a missile. Version 3 should therefore be very close.
These drones autonomous killers evolve, until they reach their target, under the control of human operators. The shots can thus be stopped until the last second if necessary, to avoid, for example, causing collateral damage. The drones like this are not a real novelty. On the other hand, in this specific case, launching them in swarms from boats and unmanned submarines confirms that in the wars of the future, the soldiers will stay as far as possible from the battlefield.
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