Imagining micronaval warfare.
Suburban Maryland
Joined July 2012
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A fiction piece of mine (linked here, clearly marked as such), and published some six years ago, is currently being amplified here by multiple accounts (including Grok) as fact.
The piece explores - through, yes, fiction - the development of an indigenous Iranian combat UUV, the Azhdar. I also published an alternative history and a short story on this through @DivergentOption and @CIMSEC, respectively.
Since then, Iran has claimed to have developed weaponized UUVs. These claims are unverified and should be viewed with a skeptical eye. To complicate matters, as events in the SOH unfold, my work(s) of fiction (including concept art used without permission) have now been woven into these claims to generate false narratives.
NOTE: The Azhdar UUV is a work of fiction.
strikepod.com/the-irin-irgcn…
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
MTR100: Profiling Subsea Leaders - Apply Today! ift.tt/ARSbY03
I rarely spend time on this site, for reasons that continue to bear themselves out. You can read my full statement on this on LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/posts/drstracha…
In my absence, my algorithmic reach has suffered, and so I am tagging some trusted folks to spread the word.
@navalnewscom @tshugart3 @thewarzonewire @august_cole @HostileSpectrum @DivergentOption @CIMSEC @Flankerchan @David_Hambling @defense_news @AlexLuck9 @Aviation_Intel @BDHerzinger
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
Automatic docking as an enabling technology for the operational autonomy of underwater systems ift.tt/ndSKTAR
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
.@SECWAR “In the Indian Ocean—an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship, that thought it was safe in international waters.
Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo—Quiet Death.
The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War 2. Like in that war—back when we were still the War Department—we are fighting to win."
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
🚨🚨🚨 This jumped out at me too.
From @USCC_GOV testimony today: U.S. naval intelligence assesses the PLA Navy is shifting from mostly-diesel-electric to ALL-NUCLEAR submarine construction.
In light of this morning's news, I'm taking this podBASE™ report out from behind the paywall.
With a clear existential threat to the Khamenei regime, the likelihood of a prolonged and impactful disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly increased. While the extent to which IRIN and IRGCN forces may have been targeted is unclear, there are several undersea options that Tehran could leverage to threaten maritime shipping and U.S. forces operating in the Persian Gulf.
strikepod.com/iranian-unders…
Like what you see? Give podBASE™ a try for 90 days. Totally free, no credit card, no hype. Just insight.
strikepod.com/research-analy…
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
Subsea Cable Sabotage: Underwater, Underprotected, and Under Attack! ift.tt/tShRrW9
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
[VIDEO] @navalgroup working on the weaponization of drones 🇫🇷
- Weaponization of the Seaquest range of unmanned surface vessels (USV)
- New very lightweight torpedo (VLT) and depth charges
- Cormorant amphibious UAV
youtube.com/watch?v=3s0YHmne…
The Office of Naval Research recently issued a BAA seeking the rapid design, build, and testing of an ultra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (UL-AUV) demonstrator, "Ocean Explorer." In a time when the Navy's extra-large (Orca) and large (Snakehead) AUV programs continue to suffer from cost overruns, technical issues, and programmatic uncertainty, and the U.S. shipbuilding and submarine workforce struggles to produce Virginia and Columbia-class hulls, what could be driving the design of of an even-larger AUV?
One of the likely drivers is the need for survivable VLS platforms. An uncrewed underwater missile barge/arsenal ship that can leverage existing architecture (the Virginia Payload Module) might hold an answer.
Want to learn more? Grab your free three month trial to podBASE™ and check out our new report.
"The U.S. Navy Is Seeking a UL-AUV"
strikepod.com/the-u-s-navy-i…
As extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-AUV) programs proliferate, careful consideration must be given to platform performance characteristics, as these will ultimately determine how many are required to maintain a credible, persistent undersea presence.
We developed a simple conceptual model, PodIQ™, to analyze how key XL-AUV performance characteristics could drive the acquisition of a persistent, credible uncrewed undersea presence.
The model enables you to:
✅ Explore tradeoffs across endurance, patrol architecture, recharge cycles, and integration with supplemental systems.
✅ Gain insight into the number of vehicles required to maximize persistent ASW coverage of a given area of waterspace.
✅ Incorporate supplemental sensor platforms, such as seabed arrays, crewed vessels and aircraft, USVs, and encapsulated torpedoes, by specifying their quantity, passive acoustic sensor coverage area, availability rate, and unit cost. These inputs are then factored into the overall fleet calculation to produce a total, all-in cost for achieving the desired level of coverage.
Want to learn more? Get yourself a three month free trial of podBASE™, our premium subscription research service, and check out the report:
"PodIQ™ - An Undersea Force Model"
strikepod.com/podiq-an-under…
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
📣 GhostPlay@SEA to Develop Collaborative #AI #Tactics for Naval Combat 🔱
As operations in naval theaters are getting more demanding, the German Navy strives to leverage #AI and #UxS for future naval missions. To this purpose, GhostPlay@SEA will develop collaborative #AI tactics for multi-domain #swarm and #counterswarm operations.
GhostPlay@SEA is a capability and technology development project by @dtecbw, funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEU. Prof Dr Gary S. Schaal, @HSUHamburg, leads the project with #ATLASELEKTRONIK serving as the industrial coordinator. Together with #21strategies @hensoldt and @RheinmetallAG, I am proud to be part of part of Team GhostPlay@SEA, which will cooperate closely with NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (#COECSW).
For more, see the official press release at thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.c…
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
Designed for diving depth of up to 60 metres and submerged speed of 4 knots (ie very low). However, the system can stay in place for up to one month. Promoted as a marine weather surveillance system. Images via "by78"/SDF.
Strikepod Systems® retweeted
A new multi-role naval drone, the Alligator-9, has been introduced by Ukraine as a modular platform capable of carrying a wide variety of payloads.
According to the manufacturer, one configuration includes the "Trident" laser system, previously showcased as an anti-drone weapon. The Alligator-9 can also function as a launch platform for kamikaze drones like the "Alligator 5 ToD," or carry 6 to 10 lightweight torpedoes for anti-ship missions.
In addition, a specialized electronic warfare version is being developed, which would deploy 3 to 5 Alligator 5 EW drones to disrupt communications and radar systems.
With its versatility and modular loadout, the Alligator-9 represents a growing trend in unmanned naval systems: flexible, unmanned platforms that can shift roles—from strike to EW to drone deployment—based on mission needs.
BREAKING:
The U.S. Navy is looking for a COTS XL-AUV capable of, among other things:
☑️ Exceptional range, capable of transits greater than 1000nm
☑️ Modular payload capacity with ability to drop various payloads to the seafloor. Payload sizes include but are not limited to:
- 5ft long, 19 inches in diameter
- 21ft in length and 21 inches in diameter
What this may indicate re: the status of the Orca program is unclear. But there are several companies that could provide a "commercially available, demonstration-ready uncrewed system ... offering a scalable and cost-effective solution for long-range, high-capacity payload deployment."
Cellula Robotics
Anduril Industries
Kongsberg Maritime
MSubs Ltd
CAMP – Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform
diu.mil/work-with-us/open-so…
The mine/torpedo/AUV convergence continues with Anduril's family of 30 knot (sprint speed), warhead capable, stealthy toroidal propeller-driven AUVs.
