Modern submarines were, are and will be formidable carriers of various weapons. They perform assigned tasks in 2/3 of the world. The boundaries for the movement of submarines have not yet been invented. And although we are proud of large submarine nuclear missile carriers, the basis of submarine warfare is carried out by small, nimble, inconspicuous diesel and diesel-electric submarines of the middle and small class. Many countries, unable to build underwater missile carriers, build or purchase small diesel submarines. Today, the number of small submarines in the world is growing almost exponentially. World leaders like the United States and England are seriously concerned about the growth of small submarines in the world. Many of the submarines are planning to be used against the United States or NATO in one way or another. And since the US military leadership is well aware of the capabilities of small, stealthy diesel submarines, it initiated the Anti-Submarine Warfare program - the creation of an unmanned underwater hunter for a multi-day combat mission to detect enemy diesel-electric submarines.
Modern batteries with increased capacity have allowed diesel-electric small submarines to increase the time required to complete a combat mission, despite the small combat range, and are able to walk at shallow depths (coastal waters), where submarine nuclear missile carriers will not pass. One of the most important advantages of such submarines is the price, which is an order of magnitude less than the cost of submarines of the SSBN type.
The ACTUV program is managed by the Pentagon's Advanced Development Department, DARPA. The first phase of the implementation of the program - the calculation of the feasibility of the project has already been completed. Now, thanks to the contract with the SAIC company, the second phase of implementation has begun - the development of the BPAA (unmanned underwater automatic vehicle) project for the search for enemy diesel-electric submarines. In the future, after the approval of the project, the third phase of implementation will begin - the demonstration of the prototype. The last, fourth phase - running and combat tests of the underwater hunter.
The underwater hunter will have tracking systems, navigation systems, sensors for various purposes on board. These solutions should make it possible to detect diesel-electric submarines and quietly accompany it, for the guidance of surface / submarine ships, as well as weapons (missiles and torpedoes). To ensure patrolling of the underwater area in search of a target, robotic hunters will be provided with high-capacity batteries.
These solutions show us how difficult it is for developers to design and create a new type of underwater technology. In the first place before the company "SAIC" is now the problem of developing power supply and storage batteries. Due to the lack of people on board the underwater hunter, it is possible, when creating an automatic underwater hunter, they will use materials with better characteristics, but negatively affecting human life. In addition, he is not required to observe the stabilization of the vehicle, pass in safe places, have good reliability and air on board. One of the requirements for an underwater reconnaissance drone is the price of one underwater hunter no more than 150 million (a tenth of the cost of a modern American anti-submarine ship). Approximately all phases of implementation will be completed within the next four years.
