The US Navy's pursuit of advanced submarine payload launchers is a game-changer, signaling a shift towards a more diverse and dynamic undersea warfare capability. This move has significant implications for the Royal Navy's future SSN-AUKUS submarines, raising questions about the extent of their integration with the evolving American approach.
The Submarine as a Mothership
The US Navy's interest in launchers for uncrewed systems and weapons is a strategic pivot. While the Virginia-class submarines already carry the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) for missiles and UUVs, the new launchers aim to go beyond, enabling the deployment, recovery, and maintenance of drones at sea. This is a significant step, as it transforms submarines into versatile motherships, capable of supporting a range of missions and payloads.
AUKUS and Commonality
The Anglo-Australian SSN-AUKUS design, with its vertical launcher, is expected to follow a similar path. The US support package confirms the inclusion of vertical launch cells, but the question remains whether this design will accommodate drone-handling capabilities or remain missile-centric. Commonality offers advantages in cost, supply chain, and interoperability, potentially allowing for cross-platform UUV recovery between US and RN submarines.
Project SCYLLA and HMS Astute
The Royal Navy is actively exploring these options through Project SCYLLA. HMS Astute's successful launch and recovery of an L3Harris Iver4 UUV through a standard torpedo tube is a significant milestone. This achievement highlights the technical challenges of recovery, requiring precise navigation and quiet operation for the UUV to re-enter the narrow confines of the torpedo tube. Modifications to the tube door may have been crucial to this success, showcasing the RN's innovative approach.
XLUUVs and Loyal Wingmen
The experimental XV Excalibur, an extra-large UUV, could revolutionize submarine operations. These larger autonomous vehicles could act as loyal wingmen, operating in concert with crewed submarines. A connection mechanism for underwater recharging and secure data exchange could be a game-changer, leveraging the unlimited power supplies of SSNs. This concept has immense potential for enhancing mission capabilities and support.
Payload Possibilities and Future Implications
The ability to deploy UUVs opens up a world of possibilities. UUVs can act as decoys, gather intelligence in dangerous areas, and serve as covert communication relay nodes. They can also support logistic operations, potentially resupplying submarines without the need to surface. This is particularly relevant for the RN's SSBNs, which are facing longer patrol durations with fresh food challenges.
While full adoption of this technology is still some years away, the use of existing torpedo tubes for UUV launch and recovery is likely more prevalent than publicly acknowledged. The design choices made now for the next-generation US and British submarines will shape their capabilities for the next three decades. The USN's approach showcases a future where attack submarines are not just torpedo and missile platforms but versatile motherships for uncrewed systems.
