Seabed warfare

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Seabed warfare is undersea warfare which takes place on or in relation to the seabed.

Contents

Overview

Seabed warfare is defined as “operations to, from and across the ocean floor.” [1]

In general the target of seabed warfare is infrastructure in place on the seabed such as power cables, telecom cables, or natural resource extraction systems. [2] [3] Seabed warfare capabilities are expensive and because of that significant capabilities are only possessed by major powers. [4]

Conflicts on the seabed can be both conventional and unconventional, the latter encompassing non-kinetic approaches such as lawfare. [5]

France has integrated seabed warfare into their military strategy with the concept of Seabed Control Operations which involves expanding their existing mine warfare and hydro-oceanography capabilities to deal with a more comprehensive spectrum of threats. [6]

Platforms

The American Block VI Virginia-class submarines will include the organic ability to employ seabed warfare equipment. [7]

The Russian submarine Losharik is thought to be capable of seabed warfare. [8]

The Chinese HSU-001 is a small UUV, speculated to be optimized for seabed warfare. [9]

See also

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References

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  2. Glenney, Bill. "THE DEEP OCEAN: SEABED WARFARE AND THE DEFENSE OF UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE, PT. 1". cimsec.org. Center for International Maritime Security. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. Johnson, Bridget. "Russia's 'Seabed Warfare' Could Hit Vast Networks of Underwater Communications Cables". www.hstoday.us. Homeland Security Today. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. Saperstein, Hadrien T. "The Royal Thai Navy's Theoretical Application of the Maritime Hybrid Warfare Concept". centreasia.eu. Centre Asia. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. Cregge, Kyle. "FIGHTING FOR THE SEAFLOOR: FROM LAWFARE TO WARFARE". cimsec.org. The Center for International Maritime Security. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  6. Vavasseur, Xavier. "France Unveils New Seabed Warfare Strategy". navalnews.com. Naval News. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. Eckstein, Megan. "Navy New Virginia Block VI Virginia Attack Boat Will Inform SSN(X)". news.usni.org. USNI. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  8. Roth, Andrew. "Fire kills 14 sailors on Russian top-secret navy submersible". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  9. MAKICHUK, DAVE. "Silent running: China embraces undersea warfare". asiatimes.com. Asia Times. Retrieved 4 March 2021.