Why the seabed is primed to be the next battlefield
Militaries are pouring billions into bulking up their underwater defenses
While the headlines have recently been looking to the stars for the next iteration of military prowess, the United States is focusing on a different playing field to hone the next generation of war that may be just as foreign as outer space: the seabed.
Less than 10% of the ocean floor has been mapped globally, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but this has not stopped the military from developing an array of technologies for use on the seabed. This is no small investment either; reports suggest the U.S. is looking to spend billions on seabed warfare. However, the Pentagon is not the only place where this type of dominance is being worked on, as both China and Russia are reportedly deep in the development of seabed technologies. A 2020 report in The National Interest suggested the U.S. was ahead of China in seabed development, though the Chinese Navy "is now giving the undersea realm the priority it deserves for ambitious naval powers in the 21st century," and Russia is reportedly working on similar technology. But how exactly does war play out on the seabed, and how will it factor into future conflicts?
What's seabed warfare and how's the U.S. implementing it?
The term seabed warfare does not yet have "a universally accepted definition," according to the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). Still, the center describes it as "operations to, from and across the seabed." This type of warfare often involves targeting infrastructure, such as fiber-optic or power cables and deep-sea gas pipelines, the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) reported.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As technological infrastructure becomes more advanced, the United States is looking to develop the next generation of military vehicles to become dominant on the seabed. The U.S. Navy is working on producing a $5.1 billion state-of-the-art spy submarine that would prowl the ocean floors, USA Today reported. The unnamed vessel, which would be a successor to the nuclear spy submarine USS Jimmy Carter, would "patrol the deepest reaches of the ocean and deploy minisubs and drones that can battle hostile forces while withstanding the crushing pressure of the ocean depths," according to the outlet.
This new submarine is just one of several seabed technologies being developed, though USA Today stated the others remain secret. Naval News reported that the submarine is already being constructed at a naval shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, though no completion date has been revealed.
Why is seabed warfare becoming an increasing threat?
The most pressing concern is the possibility that hostile nations or terrorist groups could attack the aforementioned infrastructure, USA Today reported, especially given that "oil and gas pipelines crisscross the ocean floor, and telecommunications cables that connect one continent to another are even more ubiquitous."
An attack on just a single cable "could knock out critically needed internet access, energy supplies and other necessities for tens of millions of people," USA Today added. Admiral James Stavridis, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, wrote in a 2017 report that 95% of internet traffic is carried by just 200 undersea fiber-optic cables, and an attack on any of them could be "potentially catastrophic" to the U.S.
Foreign powers such as Russia are also reportedly using "underwater surveillance equipment and are mapping key sites for possible sabotage," according to BBC News, using deep-sea exploration vessels disguised as fishing trawlers. Then there's the threat of China, which the U.S. appears to see as the most pressing. Indian outlet Firstpost reported that the new American submarine could be used to "target China's military installations in remote South China Sea islands, infiltrate enemy naval bases and target hostile warships at port."
One issue, though, is that limited knowledge of the deep oceans makes undersea operations very difficult. "The Navy's capability to affect in, from and into the deep ocean is at best extremely limited but for the most part nonexistent," CIMSEC reported. "Capabilities specifically relative to the seabed are even less and with the Navy's mine countermeasures capabilities also being very limited." So while the U.S. is reportedly working briskly to stop seabed threats, the technology's ubiquity may still be a ways away.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
4 tips for coping with election anxiety and stress
The Week Recommends Election news is hard to circumvent. But navigating the politically charged season does not have to be stressful.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Detailed map of fly's brain holds clues to human mind
Speed Read This remarkable fruit fly brain analysis will aid in future human brain research
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant: 'stylishly crafted' Roald Dahl play is 'spectacularly good'
The Week Recommends Mark Rosenblatt's 'fearless' debut examines the character of the controversial children's author
By The Week UK Published
-
RuWiki: Russian Wikipedia rival that censors everything from Ukraine to oral sex
Under the Radar Kremlin-backed project to create censored encyclopaedia could be a sign that Wikipedia's days are numbered in Russia
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Who is winning the US-China chip war?
Today's Big Question A fight for the future of advanced manufacturing
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
TikTok: an agent of Chinese propaganda?
Why everyone's talking about US Senate to deliberate on bill that would ban the app or force its Chinese parent company to divest
By The Week UK Published
-
China steals the spotlight at Apple's iPhone 15 launch
How will a directive from the Chinese government affect the tech giant?
By The Week Staff Published
-
AI's boost for students and teachers in higher education
Speed Read
By Kelsee Majette Published
-
Artificial intelligence goes to school
Speed Read AI is transforming education from grade school to grad school and making take-home essays obsolete
By The Week Staff Published
-
Could AI be harmful to people's health?
The Explainer Artifical intelligence's use in online content and health care tech raises concerns
By Justin Klawans Published
-
NPC streamers are having a moment
Speed Read A look behind the viral TikTok trend that has the internet saying, "Mmm, ice cream so good"
By Theara Coleman Published