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Autonomous weapons systems will increase the usefulness of small ocean-going craft and things that hide on the sea floor, waiting for a chance to activate. The
by RecycledEle 3y ago
Autonomous weapons systems will increase the usefulness of small ocean-going craft and things that hide on the sea floor, waiting for a chance to activate.
The world's navies got rid of armor and now they are vulnerable.
They got rid of armor because smart weapons could hit them anywhere, not just on a small armored belt just above the waterline. Armoring a ship's entire top and bottom (as well as sides) is heavy, and ships need to float.
If I were trying to establish a navy, I would concentrate on mass-produced, unmanned submarines or semi-submersibles that are hard to target without weapons that cost far more than they cost.
- 082349872349872 3y ago> ...submarines or semi-submersibles... a XXI version of the XIX CSS Merrimac vs USS Monitor or CSS Hunley vs USS Housatonic?
- happymellon 3y agoDrones. Water based drones instead of air. Would that make them more efficient, and able to travel further? If not then it's pointless, but if so then I could see the nightmare scenario of a small submersible popping out near a port and a swarm of flying drones getting launched out of it.
- RecycledEle 3y ago> Water based drones instead of air. Would that make them more efficient, and able to travel further? If I were designing them, I would use RTGs, where the heat from the radioactive isotopes is eventually cooled by the sea water.
- happymellon 3y agoThat idea completely slipped me. Yes, having the hull and ocean as a giant heatsink would make sense. Heck, when your done just have it overload and cause an explosion. A bomb that carries flying guns.
- euroderf 3y agoOh and aluminum ships burn. (Which is not to say they are toast.)