The US Navy is upgrading its submarine fleet by using cloud computing. This will enable technological upgrades to be pushed to the whole fleet in a much cheaper and efficient way.
The cloud computing architecture will cover the submarine’s entire tactical sensors. These include, sonars, imaging, and fire control systems for torpedos and cruise missiles. Defense News says:
The U.S. Navy is pushing new technology to its undersea fleet to make it safer, smarter and deadlier, while also nearing a major step in developing its next-generation attack submarine.
Among the changes that will have the most impact is moving the Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical System to a cloud-based common computing environment. SWFTS comprises a sub’s sonar, imaging, electronic warfare and combat systems, and also ties into ship control, navigation and more.
Defense costs are incredibly high for hardware like ships. The decision to separate hardware from software in the submarine fleet is a game changer. Submarines will be able to remain deadly without having to build new hulls. Marine Insight continues:
Undersea warfare systems programme executive officer Capt. Todd Weeks stated at the annual conference held by the Naval Submarine League that this action forces the separation of hardware and software, making it simpler and quicker to upgrade each.
More electronic and sonar warfare data is sent to submarines than they can process by hand. Sailors may scan through a smaller pool of compelling data if an AI technology were to filter away irrelevant information.
With the rise of ballistic anti-ship missiles and China’s growing threat to surface fleets, submarines are transitioning from a screening role to that of a capital ship. Keeping them at the cutting edge will enable them to decisively win and therefore prevent a naval conflict with China.
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