Underwater Drone Technology Could Doom Trident

New technologies, both unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) and advanced sensors, could make the world’s oceans “transparent.”

In the emerging debate over the Successor programme, set to replace the current fleet of four 20 year old submarines. The defence committee of the Commons (the lower house of the British parliament) asked defence contractors BAE Systems and Babcock International to assess “whether new technologies, for example underwater drones, are being developed which could accurately detect and track submarines” and deprive them of their one great advantage – stealth.

The answer to this question comes from independent security think-tank, the British American Information Council (BASIC), and in short it is that yes, advances in technology will someday make it impossible to hide a big missile-carrying submarine in the deep ocean.

“In the past, submarines have enjoyed the luxury of hiding in empty seas. In the future, those seas are likely to be increasingly crowded with networked drones, a net of eyes and ears which no submarine can escape,” the report reads.

That is not to say that tomorrow submarines will become effectively useless. These developments will not happen overnight. But BASIC argues that it could be extremely shortsighted to spend some £40 billion on four submarines that are only expected to launch some time in the 2030s, by which time their usefulness could be greatly diminished.

The main questions going forward should be about how to counter this counter-submarine technology if and when it arrives.

I-HLS:

« Cool Job: Professor of Intelligence Analysis Program at James Madison University
UK Bosses - Heads In The Sand Over Cybercrime »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

This year, Infosecurity Europe marks 30 years of bringing the global cybersecurity community together to further our joint mission of Building a Safer Cyber World.

E-Tech

E-Tech

E-Tech has been providing system support and information technology consulting services including Internet and Network Security assessments.

Leonardo

Leonardo

Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica) is a global high-tech company in Aerospace, Defence, Security & Information Systems including Cybersecurity & ICT solutions.

Allen & Overy

Allen & Overy

Allen & Overy is an international law firm. Practice areas include Cybersecurity and Data Protection.

Versasec

Versasec

Versasec is a leader in identity and access management, providing customers with security solutions for managing digital identities.

CERT-UA

CERT-UA

CERT-UA is the national Computer Emergency Response Team for Ukraine.

StrongKey

StrongKey

StrongKey (formerly StrongAuth) is a leader in Enterprise Key Management Infrastructure, bringing new levels of capability and data security at a price point significantly lower than other solutions.

GovCERT Austria

GovCERT Austria

GovCERT Austria is the Austrian Government Computer Emergency Response Team. Its constituency consists of Austria's public administration.

Slovenian Digital Coalition

Slovenian Digital Coalition

Slovenian Digital Coalition is a coalition working in the field of smart cities, e-commerce, e-skills, e-inclusion, cyber security, internet and other areas related to developing the digital society.

The Security Company (TSC)

The Security Company (TSC)

The Security Company is a leading provider of creative employee security awareness programmes.

Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN Austria)

Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN Austria)

GIN Austria is the connecting link between Austrian and international startups, investors, incubators and accelerators with a focus on selected hotspots in Asia.

Sylint

Sylint

Sylint is an internationally recognized cyber security and digital data forensics firm with extensive experience discretely addressing some of today’s biggest cyber breaches.

IntelliDyne

IntelliDyne

IntelliDyne is a leading information technology consulting firm enabling better mission performance through innovative technology solutions.

Appalachia Technologies

Appalachia Technologies

Appalachia is a full service Managed Services Provider with a focus on cybersecurity, backed by the best engineers.

Eqlipse Technologies

Eqlipse Technologies

Eqlipse Technologies provides products and high-end engineering solutions to customers in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.

Trovent Security

Trovent Security

Trovent was founded with a clear goal: to support medium-sized companies in significantly increasing their IT security level.

Qodea

Qodea

Qodea (formerly Appsbroker CTS) is Europe's largest Google Premier only transformation partner.