# The Promise and Pitfalls of Underwater Domain Awareness  ## Metadata - Author:: [[RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR]] - Full Title:: The Promise and Pitfalls of Underwater Domain Awareness - Category: #articles - URL: https://warontherocks.com/2023/02/the-promise-and-pitfalls-of-underwater-domain-awareness/?__s=xp05977nxem40kqcu9uq ## Highlights > maritime domain awareness ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvb4cfthhpjwpdt5xsymn9)) > underwater domain awareness is a new ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvgv7q1tv17fqkh5ev8hkb)) > modern-day technology has rendered the sea transparent ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvh58f8rphzt3eyj4tcj67)) > Aside from traditional security concerns, maritime theorists also draw attention to undersea geophysical and ecological phenomena that have a [negative impact](https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/indian-ocean-region-needs-prioritise-uda-framework) on humans ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvjabf4jy12k9jrjjz05y5)) > threats in the noisy and congested littorals has been inconsistent ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvk4xw54a2j9j48y30xk73)) > In short, underwater domain awareness is not the strategic game-changer that many anticipate. The technologies that underpin the concept are in the early stages of development, and naval planners are still grappling with its myriad dimensions and challenges ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvmx99aspgdnftdgw69pee)) #### Complex Endeavor > Undersea networks rely on sound-wave [propagation](https://sites.dartmouth.edu/dujs/2012/03/11/the-underwater-propagation-of-sound-and-its-applications/) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvppnrv498k3w3mrnzeex8)) > acoustic systems are [highly dependent](https://man.fas.org/dod-101/navy/docs/fun/part08.htm) on the density and temperature of the seawater ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvq0vaatxvveprg9r4g157)) > radiated by underwater noise sources of interest ([passive sonar](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-387-30441-0_97) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvsspshqb0a72vd5kzxnme)) #### The Anti-Submarine Warfare Challenge > passive antisubmarine warfare, however, is limited by low target signatures and high ambient-noise levels. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvwgmcs08rjrsbm53cjdpp)) #### Non-Acoustic Sensors > blue-green laser ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvy88c34scr1qrjsnm362v)) > magnetic anomaly detection ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvydxqsfgwgrjjnn2hbzh9)) > satellite wake detection ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvymwt7pmz7a76w40xqmfh)) > inability of sensors to deal with low signal strength ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvzc887hyhygkvknz221ym)) > As submarine operations have shifted from “blue water” to the shallower and far more acoustically challenging [littorals](https://indrastra.medium.com/featured-dimensions-of-submarine-threat-in-the-littorals-a-perspective-by-radm-dr-cc105d69d4b5), and as diesel-electric submarines have become [quieter](https://navalpost.com/nuclear-submarines-diesel-electric-submarines-noise-level/) than earlier, the use of non-acoustic sensors has proven to be complicated. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvzvs2d17j23pw6x4ra5yr)) > that [bathymetric light detection and ranging](https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/1/292/pdf) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw0565hfpedtqwwh9q6sq0)) > uses [blue-green laser transmission](https://idex.gov.in/challenges-cpt/1104) characteristics ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw21ncys616q1ja6jwc8k7)) > Magnetic sensors are unquestionably effective in [detecting](https://www.spsnavalforces.com/story/?id=434) shallow, submerged submarines ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw2y9c6xb4fjgbsz8czrmd)) > Ongoing efforts to reduce submarine magnetic signatures (by running currents through the hull and using non-magnetic hull materials) have rendered magnetic sensors less effective than previously thought ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw4tk15jpbn2dejgegxgyt)) > The Russian navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy — two major submarine operating navies in the Indo-Pacific region — have even resorted to the use of [non-magnetic titanium](https://navalpost.com/why-are-submarines-so-hard-to-find/) and the creation of [demagnetization facilities](https://fas.org/blogs/security/2010/04/demag/) respectively as ways of improving submarine stealth ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw5rf2et2j7exrjnt9yec4)) > Maritime observers can even detect submarine patrol patterns at sea using commercial satellite imagery and synthetic aperture radar ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwdyr8j99abhjdq1nwqr5h)) #### Underwater Drones > They can also be used in large numbers; a swarm of drones can overwhelm target systems and sensors, reducing the opponent’s combat efficiency ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwpcrr7xr1f3n6fcst7q6w)) > in the event of a failure, the asset will most likely be lost forever ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwr5td3phva95ne0e7hkk9)) > ship’s crew must practice deployment, docking, and recharging, all of which can add costs with uncertain returns on investment ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwrfjpwf8ttq77rntz4rpf)) > Navigating undersea drones in unconfined environments (beyond the coverage of acoustic transponder networks) is challenging — the only reliable method is terrain-based navigation, but it requires accurate maps, which are not always available. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxws0m1sjnby8ma44410hwv)) #### Indian Advocacy of Underwater Domain Awareness > Indian navy has taken steps to defend against attacks in [major naval harbors](https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/harbour-defence-system-inaugurated-visakhapatnam#:~:text=The%2520IUHDSS%2520is%2520a%2520multi,underwater%2520threats%2520to%2520Visakhapatnam%2520harbour.) by installing underwater defense and surveillance systems, [questions](https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/indian-navy-experiences-underwater-capability-gap/) around effectiveness remain ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwvxmh1gvn09t9r6jes6m5)) > Mines, unlike submarines, are usually stationary and require the use of some sort of active detection system like lasers or high-frequency sonar ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx0wdvx3tv22sht21r41hg)) > minesweepers in service, [worry](https://www.defencexp.com/naval-mines-the-biggest-threat-to-indian-waters/) that submarines from Pakistan or China could infiltrate Indian waters, silently deploying mines ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx19ce07ssafsmx7gjtm60)) #### Deep-Sea Digital Infrastructure > overlooked is the protection of deep-sea digital infrastructure ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx2h12f413vzyj5d57z82a)) > Submarine cables run beneath the oceans, connecting continents and islands to the internet. This digital infrastructure is threatened by terrorism as well as by fishing, shipping, and natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx2w9bx46dgnyjwy47bybm)) > U.S.-Japan “fish-hook” sound surveillance sensor chain has been extended all the way up to the Andaman-Nicobar Islands, forming a sort of counter-wall against Chinese submarines in the eastern Indian Ocean and South China Sea ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx4kfyrcbhcpx19e8k8wbp)) > no specialized agency has yet been tasked with safeguarding India’s underwater infrastructure. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx5a9pcga3qp74n4g28ft9)) #### A Skeptical Lens > For all these reasons, underwater domain awareness is still a long way from living up to its promise. Rather than putting too much faith in it, Indian planners would be better served by expanding their underseas defense efforts in concert with partner navies, in particular the U.S. Navy. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx7rj1abzvd8ryd07new02)) - Note: Let’s sell them more of our stuff > Indian officials have been [negotiating](https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-3-billion-predator-drones-deal-with-us-in-advanced-stage-report-3272753) with their U.S. counterparts for the purchase of 30 armed Predator drones for the Indian military ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx98927jk8y7kxpsg98hhd)) # The Promise and Pitfalls of Underwater Domain Awareness  ## Metadata - Author:: [[RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR]] - Full Title:: The Promise and Pitfalls of Underwater Domain Awareness - Category: #articles - URL: https://warontherocks.com/2023/02/the-promise-and-pitfalls-of-underwater-domain-awareness/?__s=xp05977nxem40kqcu9uq ## Highlights > maritime domain awareness ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvb4cfthhpjwpdt5xsymn9)) > underwater domain awareness is a new ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvgv7q1tv17fqkh5ev8hkb)) > modern-day technology has rendered the sea transparent ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvh58f8rphzt3eyj4tcj67)) > Aside from traditional security concerns, maritime theorists also draw attention to undersea geophysical and ecological phenomena that have a [negative impact](https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/indian-ocean-region-needs-prioritise-uda-framework) on humans ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvjabf4jy12k9jrjjz05y5)) > threats in the noisy and congested littorals has been inconsistent ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvk4xw54a2j9j48y30xk73)) > In short, underwater domain awareness is not the strategic game-changer that many anticipate. The technologies that underpin the concept are in the early stages of development, and naval planners are still grappling with its myriad dimensions and challenges ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvmx99aspgdnftdgw69pee)) #### Complex Endeavor > Undersea networks rely on sound-wave [propagation](https://sites.dartmouth.edu/dujs/2012/03/11/the-underwater-propagation-of-sound-and-its-applications/) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvppnrv498k3w3mrnzeex8)) > acoustic systems are [highly dependent](https://man.fas.org/dod-101/navy/docs/fun/part08.htm) on the density and temperature of the seawater ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvq0vaatxvveprg9r4g157)) > radiated by underwater noise sources of interest ([passive sonar](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-387-30441-0_97) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvsspshqb0a72vd5kzxnme)) #### The Anti-Submarine Warfare Challenge > passive antisubmarine warfare, however, is limited by low target signatures and high ambient-noise levels. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvwgmcs08rjrsbm53cjdpp)) #### Non-Acoustic Sensors > blue-green laser ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvy88c34scr1qrjsnm362v)) > magnetic anomaly detection ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvydxqsfgwgrjjnn2hbzh9)) > satellite wake detection ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvymwt7pmz7a76w40xqmfh)) > inability of sensors to deal with low signal strength ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvzc887hyhygkvknz221ym)) > As submarine operations have shifted from “blue water” to the shallower and far more acoustically challenging [littorals](https://indrastra.medium.com/featured-dimensions-of-submarine-threat-in-the-littorals-a-perspective-by-radm-dr-cc105d69d4b5), and as diesel-electric submarines have become [quieter](https://navalpost.com/nuclear-submarines-diesel-electric-submarines-noise-level/) than earlier, the use of non-acoustic sensors has proven to be complicated. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxvzvs2d17j23pw6x4ra5yr)) > that [bathymetric light detection and ranging](https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/1/292/pdf) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw0565hfpedtqwwh9q6sq0)) > uses [blue-green laser transmission](https://idex.gov.in/challenges-cpt/1104) characteristics ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw21ncys616q1ja6jwc8k7)) > Magnetic sensors are unquestionably effective in [detecting](https://www.spsnavalforces.com/story/?id=434) shallow, submerged submarines ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw2y9c6xb4fjgbsz8czrmd)) > Ongoing efforts to reduce submarine magnetic signatures (by running currents through the hull and using non-magnetic hull materials) have rendered magnetic sensors less effective than previously thought ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw4tk15jpbn2dejgegxgyt)) > The Russian navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy — two major submarine operating navies in the Indo-Pacific region — have even resorted to the use of [non-magnetic titanium](https://navalpost.com/why-are-submarines-so-hard-to-find/) and the creation of [demagnetization facilities](https://fas.org/blogs/security/2010/04/demag/) respectively as ways of improving submarine stealth ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxw5rf2et2j7exrjnt9yec4)) > Maritime observers can even detect submarine patrol patterns at sea using commercial satellite imagery and synthetic aperture radar ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwdyr8j99abhjdq1nwqr5h)) #### Underwater Drones > They can also be used in large numbers; a swarm of drones can overwhelm target systems and sensors, reducing the opponent’s combat efficiency ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwpcrr7xr1f3n6fcst7q6w)) > in the event of a failure, the asset will most likely be lost forever ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwr5td3phva95ne0e7hkk9)) > ship’s crew must practice deployment, docking, and recharging, all of which can add costs with uncertain returns on investment ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwrfjpwf8ttq77rntz4rpf)) > Navigating undersea drones in unconfined environments (beyond the coverage of acoustic transponder networks) is challenging — the only reliable method is terrain-based navigation, but it requires accurate maps, which are not always available. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxws0m1sjnby8ma44410hwv)) #### Indian Advocacy of Underwater Domain Awareness > Indian navy has taken steps to defend against attacks in [major naval harbors](https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/harbour-defence-system-inaugurated-visakhapatnam#:~:text=The%2520IUHDSS%2520is%2520a%2520multi,underwater%2520threats%2520to%2520Visakhapatnam%2520harbour.) by installing underwater defense and surveillance systems, [questions](https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/indian-navy-experiences-underwater-capability-gap/) around effectiveness remain ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxwvxmh1gvn09t9r6jes6m5)) > Mines, unlike submarines, are usually stationary and require the use of some sort of active detection system like lasers or high-frequency sonar ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx0wdvx3tv22sht21r41hg)) > minesweepers in service, [worry](https://www.defencexp.com/naval-mines-the-biggest-threat-to-indian-waters/) that submarines from Pakistan or China could infiltrate Indian waters, silently deploying mines ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx19ce07ssafsmx7gjtm60)) #### Deep-Sea Digital Infrastructure > overlooked is the protection of deep-sea digital infrastructure ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx2h12f413vzyj5d57z82a)) > Submarine cables run beneath the oceans, connecting continents and islands to the internet. This digital infrastructure is threatened by terrorism as well as by fishing, shipping, and natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx2w9bx46dgnyjwy47bybm)) > U.S.-Japan “fish-hook” sound surveillance sensor chain has been extended all the way up to the Andaman-Nicobar Islands, forming a sort of counter-wall against Chinese submarines in the eastern Indian Ocean and South China Sea ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx4kfyrcbhcpx19e8k8wbp)) > no specialized agency has yet been tasked with safeguarding India’s underwater infrastructure. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx5a9pcga3qp74n4g28ft9)) #### A Skeptical Lens > For all these reasons, underwater domain awareness is still a long way from living up to its promise. Rather than putting too much faith in it, Indian planners would be better served by expanding their underseas defense efforts in concert with partner navies, in particular the U.S. Navy. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx7rj1abzvd8ryd07new02)) - Note: Let’s sell them more of our stuff > Indian officials have been [negotiating](https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-3-billion-predator-drones-deal-with-us-in-advanced-stage-report-3272753) with their U.S. counterparts for the purchase of 30 armed Predator drones for the Indian military ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01grxx98927jk8y7kxpsg98hhd))