Naval Drones

Sineva said:
UUV or very large torpedo?
https://twitter.com/x/status/1956697364636577840
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c68b4a10-886f-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg
 
Scott Kenny said:
I'm still thinking long-endurance UUV over Sino-STATUS.
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That image shows a different, fatter submarine than the so called sitno-status one.
That being said, It could very well be that the sino status looking one is also more of a sensor sub and less of a nuke weapon.
 
totoro said:
That image shows a different, fatter submarine than the so called sitno-status one.
That being said, It could very well be that the sino status looking one is also more of a sensor sub and less of a nuke weapon.
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Nah, the actual narration said the Status-6 looking one is an unmanned mine layer while the larger one is a fully autonomous submarine. I've also heard some source say that one is equipped with 2 380mm tubes.
 
Tomboy said:
Nah, the actual narration said the Status-6 looking one is an unmanned mine layer
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Not what I expected, but that's a rude surprise if true.



Tomboy said:
the larger one is a fully autonomous submarine. I've also heard some source say that one is equipped with 2 380mm tubes.
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What Chinese torpedoes are 380mm? Those must be custom weapons bigger than the air-dropped LWTs.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Not what I expected, but that's a rude surprise if true.




What Chinese torpedoes are 380mm? Those must be custom weapons bigger than the air-dropped LWTs.
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I'm also rather suprised at the 380mm torpedos, they could've simply went for 324mm. The rumors are based on trade show models and spec sheet as this one actually has been shown before.
 

Navy to establish new robotic and autonomous systems program office, consolidate existing efforts​

Navy to establish new robotic and autonomous systems program office, consolidate existing efforts | InsideDefense.com

Navy Secretary John Phelan has directed the establishment of a new program executive office for robotic and autonomous systems (PEO RAS) and the creation of a corresponding portfolio acquisition executive position as well as a deputy assistant Navy secretary for robotic and autonomous systems...
insidedefense.com insidedefense.com
 
Tomboy said:
I'm also rather suprised at the 380mm torpedos,
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As far as I know those particular torpedoes are unlicensed reverse-engineered copies of captured intact Mk-46 torpedoes which are 12.75" in diameter.
 
NMaude said:
As far as I know those particular torpedoes are unlicensed reverse-engineered copies of captured intact Mk-46 torpedoes which are 12.75" in diameter.
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That's 324mm not 380mm, also China has replaced the Yu-7(Mk-46 clone) with fully domestic light torpedos ever since the 2010s.
 
Tomboy said:
I'm also rather suprised at the 380mm torpedos, they could've simply went for 324mm. The rumors are based on trade show models and spec sheet as this one actually has been shown before.
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I'd actually expect 400mm-ish torpedoes like what the Swedes are using as the "middle-weight" option. Or an "anti-surface lightweight" if you prefer. Something with about 250lbs/120kg TNT equivalent weight.

324mm Torpedoes don't really have enough boom to hurt a surface ship. The 324mm LWT's primary threat to a submarine is popping the shaft seals and causing major major flooding in the engineroom. But popping the shaft seals on a surface ship is much less of a danger.
 
Scott Kenny said:
I'd actually expect 400mm-ish torpedoes like what the Swedes are using as the "middle-weight" option. Or an "anti-surface lightweight" if you prefer. Something with about 250lbs/120kg TNT equivalent weight.

324mm Torpedoes don't really have enough boom to hurt a surface ship. The 324mm LWT's primary threat to a submarine is popping the shaft seals and causing major major flooding in the engineroom. But popping the shaft seals on a surface ship is much less of a danger.
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I think 100# hit is a threat most anywhere it hits except for perhaps the largest submarines.
 
Josh_TN said:
I think 100# hit is a threat most anywhere it hits except for perhaps the largest submarines.
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Not sure about that. Guess the next RIMPAC SINKEX needs to test that with one of the Mk54s. Though a modified Mk46 is honestly good enough for surface ships. Don't need the fancy engine.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Not sure about that. Guess the next RIMPAC SINKEX needs to test that with one of the Mk54s. Though a modified Mk46 is honestly good enough for surface ships. Don't need the fancy engine.
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I meant for submarines, though I suspect a 100# underwater explosion could send most surface combatants to a body and fender shop at the least.
 
DWG said:
Swim-out tubes?
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Maybe? The "21-inch" torpedo tubes on a sub are about 25" in diameter before all the skids and rails and stuff, so I was assuming that we were talking about "tubes for a 380mm torpedo"

Edit: and not "tubes that are 380mm inside diameter for a torpedo that is 325mm outside diameter"
 
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Scott Kenny said:
Not sure about that. Guess the next RIMPAC SINKEX needs to test that with one of the Mk54s. Though a modified Mk46 is honestly good enough for surface ships. Don't need the fancy engine.
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Mk46 and mk54 have the same engine; you are thinking of mk50.
 
NMaude said:
It's a pity that the Mk-50's production was IMO prematurely ended in the 90s because when I first read about it back in the early 90s I was very impressed with the design.
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There was nothing to shoot them at.

Is Mk54 mid 2 a thing? I wasn’t sure it was funded.
 
Ghosts of the Deep: China's AJX-002 XLUUV and the Geopolitics of Undersea Power
www.spacewar.com

Ghosts of the Deep: China's AJX-002 XLUUV and the Geopolitics of Undersea Power

Budapest, Hungary (SPX) Sep 11, 2025 - China's unveiling of the AJX-002 eXtra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) at its September military parade in Beijing is more than just a flashy demonstration of hardware - it's a stark messa
www.spacewar.com
 
Scott Kenny said:
Oops, should be Mod1. And was supposed to enter OT&E in 2017.
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Not quite.

Mk54 Mod 1 has an improved sonar array compared to the Mk 54 Mod 0. It finally reached IOC in 2023. There was also a Mk54 Block Upgrade (BUG) that seems to have been mostly a refresh of Mod 0 to but had some development issues.


Mk54 Mod2 has a SCEPS engine like Mk50 (but not the same one) and a new warhead. It's actually too big for the existing VL ASROC and HAAWC delivery systems.

www.l3harris.com

L3Harris Successfully Tests New Power Plant System for Advanced Lightweight Torpedo

L3Harris Technologies has successfully completed testing of the first power plant system for the Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System (SCEPS) that will power the U.S. Navy’s MK 54 MOD 2 Increment 2 Advanced Lightweight Torpedo.
www.l3harris.com www.l3harris.com
 
Thanks, I thought that the mod2 had not entered service. I did not realize it was not the same form factor - that seems a little pointless. So just helicopter and surface ship launch? I cannot imagine speed matters much for helo deployment.
 
Josh_TN said:
Thanks, I thought that the mod2 had not entered service. I did not realize it was not the same form factor - that seems a little pointless. So just helicopter and surface ship launch? I cannot imagine speed matters much for helo deployment.
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Turns out it's even more complicated. They just switched Mk 54 Mod 2 to an "incremental" development with the new front end (seeker and warhead) coming first and the SCEPS propulsion back end coming later. The front end will remain compatible with existing Mk 54 delivery methods, including the HAAWC wing kit and presumably VLA. The propulsion update changes the form factor enough that you need new wigs and a new version of VLA. The C-HAAWC wing kit for Mod 2 also got delayed.

Boeing's $61 Million Contract Award Reaffirms Confidence Amid HAAWC Uncertainty - Naval News https://share.google/E4FrKQbkhZGwtuf64
 
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aonestudio said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1966945949982552371
View: https://x.com/maria_drutska/status/1966945949982552371
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TV2 had "Quantum of Solace" on last night so that photo with the Drone with two AA-11s raised ready to fire and the hot blonde in front of it is so James Bond (Yeah I wouldn't be surprised at all if the next 007 film has sea drones in it).

TomS said:
It's actually too big for the existing VL ASROC
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TomS said:
The propulsion update changes the form factor enough that you need new wigs and a new version of VLA.
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I suppose there's some sort of Mk-114 rocket-booster upgrade or enhanced replacement in the works for an improved VLA to carry the Mk-54 Mod-2?

TomS said:
Mk54 Mod2 has a SCEPS engine like Mk50
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Do you have a link please describing the SCEPS engine, please?
 
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NMaude said:
TV2 had "Quantum of Solace" on last night so that photo with the Drone with two AA-11s raised ready to fire and the hot blonde in from of it is so James Bond (Yeah I wouldn't be surprised at all if the next 007 film has sea drones in it).




I suppose there's some sort of Mk-114 rocket-booster upgrade or enhanced replacement in the works for an improved VLA to carry the Mk-54 Mod-2?



Do you have a link please describing the SCEPS engine, please?
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I don't off hand.

Basically, it injects sulfur hexafluoride gas into a core of solid metallic lithium. That produces a huge amount of heat and an "ash" of sulfur and lithium fluoride. The heat drives a Rankine cycle turbine that produces a lot of power to the propellers. Because the combustion byproducts take up less volume than the original inputs, the system doesn't have to overcome seawater pressure to dump exhaust overboard like a traditional swash plate or turbine combustion engine. That combination of high specific energy and lack of exhaust make for a very fast torpedo that is highly efficient even at great depth. It's also very expensive, which is why most navies just use batteries.
 
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TomS said:
Not quite.

Mk54 Mod 1 has an improved sonar array compared to the Mk 54 Mod 0. It finally reached IOC in 2023. There was also a Mk54 Block Upgrade (BUG) that seems to have been mostly a refresh of Mod 0 to but had some development issues.


Mk54 Mod2 has a SCEPS engine like Mk50 (but not the same one) and a new warhead. It's actually too big for the existing VL ASROC and HAAWC delivery systems.

www.l3harris.com

L3Harris Successfully Tests New Power Plant System for Advanced Lightweight Torpedo

L3Harris Technologies has successfully completed testing of the first power plant system for the Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System (SCEPS) that will power the U.S. Navy’s MK 54 MOD 2 Increment 2 Advanced Lightweight Torpedo.
www.l3harris.com www.l3harris.com
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Okay, that's weird. But I'm not arguing with navy.mil documents.
 

China’s New Giant Underwater Drone Increases Naval Mine Threat Around Taiwan​

www.navalnews.com

China’s New Giant Underwater Drone Increases Naval Mine Threat Around Taiwan - Naval News

China unveiled its AJX002 underwater minelaying drone, signalling a significant expansion and modernization of its capabilities. The dedicated platform enhances blockade potential, particularly around Taiwan, raising strategic concerns as its covert, almost deniable nature increases the...
www.navalnews.com www.navalnews.com
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1969085688403407349
View: https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1969085688403407349


1758305629633.png


The largest TLK 1000, depending on the task, can be from 4 to 12 meters long, and the payload can be up to 5000 kg of warhead.

At the same time, the developers wanted to achieve a range of up to 2000 km.

TLK 400 has more modest characteristics: its size can be from 4 to 6 meters, its payload can be up to 500 kg, and its range can be up to 1200 kilometers.
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Germany To Build Uncrewed Missile-Toting Arsenal Ships For Its Frigates​

www.twz.com

Germany To Build Uncrewed Missile-Toting Arsenal Ships For Its Frigates

The missile-packed uncrewed ‘wingmen’ are intended to support Germany's conventional surface combatants by adding a big boost in firepower. Packing air defense and maritime strike missiles, the uncrewed ‘arsenal ships’ will support more conventional surface combatants.
www.twz.com www.twz.com

Gabler unveils submarine launched USV​

www.navalnews.com

Gabler unveils submarine launched USV - Naval News

Gabler today unveiled concepts for their highly anticipated uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) designed for torpedo tube launch (TTL).
www.navalnews.com www.navalnews.com
 
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