Poiuytrewq wrote: ↑13 Nov 2023, 23:22
shark bait wrote: ↑13 Nov 2023, 22:43
They won't be cruising around at high speed because that requires atomic levels of energy density. Drone subs will be comparable to other SSKs, slow and stealthy ambush predators.
Its way too early to be that sure. You are basing your assumptions on what is possible today.
What happens if you take a small SSK with AIP and fill the crew spaces with lithium batteries? What could a power bank of that size be truly capable of?
The system will stop working every seven days, and "rescue" operation will be issued frequently. AIP is a mess.
What is the true potential of the lithium technology when refined again and again and again. We know it’s quiet but speed, range and endurance numbers are currently improving exponentially.
In a decades time lithium and hydrogen technology will be streets ahead of where we are now. Jump two decades and who knows what’s possible.
New battery technologies are really encouraging. But, the motors, power electronics and shafts, if with high power, it is a nightmare if without proper maintenance. The big differences are one it static, and the other is moving mechanics. This is my point.
There is a reason MQ-9Bs are using a relatively low power resi-pro engine, not a powerful turbine. Low power is very "beautiful" in mechatronics world.
It’s worth considering that virtually all capabilities will be autonomous eventually, it’s just a case of how quick we get there.
I can agree here. The first we need is a good robot which can replace human to do all the maintenance works. Of course, it does not need to look like a human. I think it will take a few decades for this technology to come. But, eventually, I agree, it will come.
On the other hand, current technology for unmanned systems is stepping forward, low-power but long endurance. I think it is a very healthy way of technology development, at least for coming two decades or so.
In short I think any XLUUV must not be considered as "unmanned SSK". XLUUV is a different beast, which can do the task in different way SSKs are doing. For example;
1: Information gathering is of course the top ranked tasks. Sneeking, ambushing for months, and if the issue is important, "report" by Satcom. No SSK nor SSN can do this. They are just too large and has not enough endurance.
2: pretending a SSK or SSN or even SSBN. Many of the enemy sub, XVUUV, ASW escorts and aircrafts will be "pulled out" of the area, making a free way for our SSK/SSN/SSBN. This can be done by SSK or SSN. But, by its tasks' nature, meaningless if we do so. SSK/SSN is so costy and precious these days.
3: "Attack" is something not easy. I think we still need "a man in the loop" when firing something against human. This is a very unconvenient restriction for XLUUV. But, without this, we might eventually be distributing hundreds of "terminators" underwater all over the world.
4: Other tasks?