Seabed warfare is undersea warfare which takes place on or in relation to the seabed.
Overview
editSeabed 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
editThe 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Carr, Christopher; Franco, Jahdiel; Mierzwa, Cheryl; Shattuck, Lewis B.; Suursoo, Melissa. "SEABED WARFARE AND THE XLUUV" (PDF). calhoun.nps.edu. Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Glenney, Bill. "THE DEEP OCEAN: SEABED WARFARE AND THE DEFENSE OF UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE, PT. 1". cimsec.org. Center for International Maritime Security. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Bridget (22 March 2018). "Russia's 'Seabed Warfare' Could Hit Vast Networks of Underwater Communications Cables". www.hstoday.us. Homeland Security Today. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Saperstein, Hadrien T. (12 October 2020). "The Royal Thai Navy's Theoretical Application of the Maritime Hybrid Warfare Concept". centreasia.eu. Centre Asia. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Cregge, Kyle. "FIGHTING FOR THE SEAFLOOR: FROM LAWFARE TO WARFARE". cimsec.org. The Center for International Maritime Security. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (16 February 2022). "France Unveils New Seabed Warfare Strategy". navalnews.com. Naval News. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ Eckstein, Megan (20 November 2020). "Navy New Virginia Block VI Virginia Attack Boat Will Inform SSN(X)". news.usni.org. USNI. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Roth, Andrew (2 July 2019). "Fire kills 14 sailors on Russian top-secret navy submersible". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ MAKICHUK, DAVE (11 March 2020). "Silent running: China embraces undersea warfare". asiatimes.com. Asia Times. Retrieved 4 March 2021.