8 ms·

These drones are the future of naval warfare. If you haven't seen the videos of Ukrainian marine USVs, they're wild. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwXzaBixvL

• 082349872349872 3y ago
  For the primitive versions, compare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ship
• jsiepkes 3y ago
  When you are caught up in asymmetrical warfare (like Ukraine) I definitely see the advantages and potential. But I wonder if for a normal navy a small submarine with a torpedo isn't more effective. More so because right now there aren't thatany effective counter measures (some drunken sailors firing wildly in the dark), but that will change.
  • fock 3y ago
    I also wonder about a point raised by russian propagandists (which imho is valid): the ukrainian things are relatively low and don't have that mast (see here: https://www.twz.com/ukrainian-drone-boat-appears-to-have-been-captured-by-russia https://www.twz.com/ukrainian-drone-boat-appears-to-have-bee...). So how do they find their (relatively small as of late) targets in a 20x100km² area 600km off their deployment point without a) sending those on an industrial scale (unlikely given the western supply chain...), b) these things loitering for days (unlikely given the size?), c) having some very advanced sonar things (which also would need some more depth if I look at publically deployed solutions), d) Russian captains are really incompetent (likely) or e) they are actually guided by the plentiful western surveillance assets. Which would be just like the Houthi missiles which are a) fired in volleys and b) probably depend on data by the iranian/chinese ships lurking around ... The last 2 points make this thing really very good in this specific war (surveillance assets can do whatever they want and russian captains seemed very complacent), but very inefficient anytime else. Also I'd say you should be able to easily adapt something like the various CIWSs (which currently have ancient designs...) to this threat. Also: once you notice the threat (which 2/3 last incident did?), why not level the playing field for your (hopefully not all drunken...) sailors and just flare up the whole environment (which should have helped here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwXzaBixvL8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwXzaBixvL8 - also I don't really agree with this guy, that more ships help in defending against a swarming attack when they don't know how to kill the swarm...)
    • flir 3y ago
      It's (e). They're getting intelligence from NATO countries. I thought that was publically acknowledged? Could be wrong.
      • _dain_ 3y ago
        Yeah it's not a secret that this is happening. UK/France/Germany are helping with targeting.
      • zarzavat 3y ago
        What confuses me is, how is this even a talking point? Under what theory is EU supposed to sit back and watch a bordering country get invaded and not pass that country intelligence? Are we supposed to believe that if the EU invaded Belarus, that Russia wouldn’t pass any intelligence to the Belarusian government?
        • paganel 3y ago
          Because, firstly, EU is not a country, I'm a EU citizen and I certainly do not approve of this policy but there's no way for me (or for other people who think the same as me) to vote out the people that make those decisions (I'm also not a French citizen, maybe that way I could have had an effect on Macron holding power or not). It's a double-edged sword for the EU leaders in the middle to long-term, because once a great part of the European population will start realising that they have been in effect disenfranchised then said population will have no qualms in following new political leaders that will leave "democracy" at the side, and thus leaving the concept of the EU for dead.
          • dainiusse 3y ago
            If you're an Eu citizen - you should care that russia is stopped in Ukraine as they said multiple times - their goal is up to Lisbon.
            • paganel 3y ago
  • flir 3y ago
    I know nothing about the area, but it strikes me that it's all about the amount of resources you put into each weapon. In the same way that you can make more drones than planes for your $, you might be able to make more underwater drones than submarines for your $. Although I guess the line between torpedo, mine and underwater drone gets blurry.
    • hef19898 3y ago
      Since modern torps, much like cruise missiles and anti-tank missiles as well as rockets, a more often than not guided (laser, wire...), yes, the line of what isba drone and what is a torpedo get blurry. Drones, IMHO, have more loitering capability. It is very interesting to see how drone warfare develops.
  • deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
• pastacacioepepe 3y ago
  [flagged]
  • hef19898 3y ago
    Tax payer money?
    • pastacacioepepe 3y ago
      [flagged]
      • hef19898 3y ago
        And that amounts to billions? You are a weird person... Just a quick reminder, this ain't the first NATO mission to the area.
        • pastacacioepepe 3y ago
          > And that amounts to billions? You are a weird person... An aircraft carrier alone is worth billions. Learn how to count, weirdo. > Just a quick reminder, this ain't the first NATO mission to the area. Yeah I know, we brought terrific destruction, killed millions of innocents and maimed more in the surroundings.
          • deleted 3y ago
            [deleted]
          • dang 3y ago
            We've banned this account for using HN primarily for political battle and ignoring our request to stop. You can't do that on HN regardless of what you're for or against. If you don't want to be banned, you're welcome to email hn@ycombinator.com and give us reason to believe that you'll follow the rules in the future. They're here: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.
        • 3y ago
• wood_spirit 3y ago
  The best open source of technical info on this whole topic area is http://www.hisutton.com http://www.hisutton.com