# Under the Sea and Ready for War? US Wants to Spend Billions on Spy Submarine to Fend Off Ocean-Deep China, Russia Advances  ## Metadata - Author:: [[USA Today]] - Full Title:: Under the Sea and Ready for War? US Wants to Spend Billions on Spy Submarine to Fend Off Ocean-Deep China, Russia Advances - Category: #articles - URL: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/2023/05/23/seabed-warfare-new-combat-us-russia-china/70208034007/?for-guid=cf4fd663-4d96-4ae3-929c-8d8e6bb9d426&utm_source=usatoday-newsalert-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_term=Hero&utm_content=usat-mclean-nletter01 ## Highlights #### The U.S. Navy wants to spend $5.1 billion on a high-tech, tricked out spy submarine as seabed warfare ramps up and U.S., China and Russia battle for dominance. > It’s called seabed warfare. For the U.S. Navy, that means building its most expensive spy submarine ever, a $5.1 billion high-tech vessel that would patrol the deepest reaches of the ocean and deploy mini-subs and drones that can battle hostile forces while withstanding the crushing pressure of the ocean depths. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hspz3qzxkajkcddhgzza49)) > They are all extremely vulnerable to tampering or attack by hostile nations or terrorists, according to U.S. and allied government reports and officials. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsry454xpnewdnxkr3j0p4)) > In fact, an attack on just one cable or pipeline, or even a temporary disruption, could knock out critically needed Internet access, energy supplies and other necessities for tens of millions of people. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hssatdestz01acbhzsyqks)) > but pipes on the ocean floor that form the backbone of the world’s economy.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hssmx9ypqm3yxrgg31623j)) #### The invisible backbone of the global economy > Currently, more than 95% of the traffic coursing through the global internet is carried by just 200 undersea fiber-optic cables ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hstahe75sjrzzxfapntvd6)) > Stavridis, who [led the NATO alliance in global operations](https://www.usni.org/people/james-stavridis) from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander, warned that an all-out attack on undersea cable infrastructure would cause “potentially catastrophic” damage to the U.S. and its allies, and their ability to transmit confidential information, conduct financial transactions and communicate internationally. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsvb8tekfs7zvhj95ae7az)) > with “well over 50 billion devices on the internet of things driving the global economy.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsz10che90txg9tepg2v7c)) > Only a few hundred cables carry all of that traffic," he said in an interview. "It is a dangerous and unsustainable system." ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsz5dmxymdmg87xbtt0b63)) #### China versus Taiwan, Russia's suspected role in pipeline attack: The early stages of seabed warfare > Russia has built its own deep sea spy sub, the Belgorod, which can fire two-megaton nuclear warhead torpedoes at depths no existing weapon system could intercept – and could take out an entire U.S. port or aircraft carrier strike group ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht7b6b4v2kj1hpzv5dcmqp)) > And it quietly has been building other specialized deep seabed war vessels, including intelligence ships and submarines that disrupt undersea cable infrastructure. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht7kc328ddm14q5f0ydm1j)) > Last month, Ireland’s military released surveillance footage of at least two Russian ships off the Galway coast near a newly opened seabed communications cable ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht8cvcp3x2ahejfnjy5cse)) > Clonan. "Something like one-third of all of the data online goes through these cables, so they're a really, really critical piece of infrastructure." ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht8xmcnezb3qy3d24mxy27)) #### From Soviet communication networks to deepwater oil drilling > Given these aggressive moves, various nations – including the U.S. and allies France and Britain – have made seabed warfare an urgent priority in order to protect their interests. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htctfrctbv38f34fwjct30)) > Preliminary work on the submarine is already underway at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hte2hz6s7s45psf26h9vpj)) #### Phasing out a deep-sea legend > Jimmy Carter sports a specially fortified 100-foot hull extension, which can turn it into a hangar of sorts for a host of deep-sea exploratory instruments ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htj8jms4kp2gmrrpnyj650)) #### Orcas, Snakeheads and Micro-submersibles > They said the Navy remains committed to completing the Orca, an extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle that can [lay mines, conduct surveillance and engage](https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2019/12/17/the-us-navys-new-orca-drone-submarine-could-get-offensive-role/?sh=3248cce60ca9) in Special Operations offensive warfare missions. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htmxdwrab8edx7z5tj0tep)) > And like the USS Jimmy Carter, the new sub would be able to cut and tap undersea fiber optic communications cables itself. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htpt8ed4s6aqxvg148q87e)) > Three D’s: If they’re dull, or something that happens over a long period of time; dirty, if it’s an environment that's hard for humans to operate in; and dangerous, if the mission comes with a high risk to human life. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htqw6enm85fnht9k7vbx1e)) - Note: Dull, dirty, dangerous #### Cables, pipelines and trillions in key minerals > vast wealth of man-made and natural assets: fiber-optic communications cables, sensitive parts related to rocket and missile tests and fossil fuel deposits and other natural resourcess. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htsesx8f2eqbm6trjtkvnc)) > We know less about the ocean floor than we do about the surface of the moon and Mars,” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1httxh5r48rs2g5n20dcfvh)) > Both Russia and China have invested heavily in commercializing the seafloor ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htvpsgkygrrwzp49jggqx7)) #### U.S. allies are also ramping up efforts > Russia is attracted to hybrid warfare like this because it offers the scope for plausible deniability, involves limited loss of human life, and exploits the gray areas of NATO Article 5 mutual responsibilities,” Sunak warned. “As a result, mobilizing international action against an offensive would be difficult.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htxvc3a13sxs5jyxcx2e91)) # Under the Sea and Ready for War? US Wants to Spend Billions on Spy Submarine to Fend Off Ocean-Deep China, Russia Advances  ## Metadata - Author:: [[USA Today]] - Full Title:: Under the Sea and Ready for War? US Wants to Spend Billions on Spy Submarine to Fend Off Ocean-Deep China, Russia Advances - Category: #articles - URL: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/2023/05/23/seabed-warfare-new-combat-us-russia-china/70208034007/?for-guid=cf4fd663-4d96-4ae3-929c-8d8e6bb9d426&utm_source=usatoday-newsalert-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_term=Hero&utm_content=usat-mclean-nletter01 ## Highlights #### The U.S. Navy wants to spend $5.1 billion on a high-tech, tricked out spy submarine as seabed warfare ramps up and U.S., China and Russia battle for dominance. > It’s called seabed warfare. For the U.S. Navy, that means building its most expensive spy submarine ever, a $5.1 billion high-tech vessel that would patrol the deepest reaches of the ocean and deploy mini-subs and drones that can battle hostile forces while withstanding the crushing pressure of the ocean depths. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hspz3qzxkajkcddhgzza49)) > They are all extremely vulnerable to tampering or attack by hostile nations or terrorists, according to U.S. and allied government reports and officials. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsry454xpnewdnxkr3j0p4)) > In fact, an attack on just one cable or pipeline, or even a temporary disruption, could knock out critically needed Internet access, energy supplies and other necessities for tens of millions of people. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hssatdestz01acbhzsyqks)) > but pipes on the ocean floor that form the backbone of the world’s economy.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hssmx9ypqm3yxrgg31623j)) #### The invisible backbone of the global economy > Currently, more than 95% of the traffic coursing through the global internet is carried by just 200 undersea fiber-optic cables ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hstahe75sjrzzxfapntvd6)) > Stavridis, who [led the NATO alliance in global operations](https://www.usni.org/people/james-stavridis) from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander, warned that an all-out attack on undersea cable infrastructure would cause “potentially catastrophic” damage to the U.S. and its allies, and their ability to transmit confidential information, conduct financial transactions and communicate internationally. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsvb8tekfs7zvhj95ae7az)) > with “well over 50 billion devices on the internet of things driving the global economy.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsz10che90txg9tepg2v7c)) > Only a few hundred cables carry all of that traffic," he said in an interview. "It is a dangerous and unsustainable system." ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hsz5dmxymdmg87xbtt0b63)) #### China versus Taiwan, Russia's suspected role in pipeline attack: The early stages of seabed warfare > Russia has built its own deep sea spy sub, the Belgorod, which can fire two-megaton nuclear warhead torpedoes at depths no existing weapon system could intercept – and could take out an entire U.S. port or aircraft carrier strike group ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht7b6b4v2kj1hpzv5dcmqp)) > And it quietly has been building other specialized deep seabed war vessels, including intelligence ships and submarines that disrupt undersea cable infrastructure. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht7kc328ddm14q5f0ydm1j)) > Last month, Ireland’s military released surveillance footage of at least two Russian ships off the Galway coast near a newly opened seabed communications cable ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht8cvcp3x2ahejfnjy5cse)) > Clonan. "Something like one-third of all of the data online goes through these cables, so they're a really, really critical piece of infrastructure." ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1ht8xmcnezb3qy3d24mxy27)) #### From Soviet communication networks to deepwater oil drilling > Given these aggressive moves, various nations – including the U.S. and allies France and Britain – have made seabed warfare an urgent priority in order to protect their interests. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htctfrctbv38f34fwjct30)) > Preliminary work on the submarine is already underway at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1hte2hz6s7s45psf26h9vpj)) #### Phasing out a deep-sea legend > Jimmy Carter sports a specially fortified 100-foot hull extension, which can turn it into a hangar of sorts for a host of deep-sea exploratory instruments ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htj8jms4kp2gmrrpnyj650)) #### Orcas, Snakeheads and Micro-submersibles > They said the Navy remains committed to completing the Orca, an extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle that can [lay mines, conduct surveillance and engage](https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2019/12/17/the-us-navys-new-orca-drone-submarine-could-get-offensive-role/?sh=3248cce60ca9) in Special Operations offensive warfare missions. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htmxdwrab8edx7z5tj0tep)) > And like the USS Jimmy Carter, the new sub would be able to cut and tap undersea fiber optic communications cables itself. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htpt8ed4s6aqxvg148q87e)) > Three D’s: If they’re dull, or something that happens over a long period of time; dirty, if it’s an environment that's hard for humans to operate in; and dangerous, if the mission comes with a high risk to human life. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htqw6enm85fnht9k7vbx1e)) - Note: Dull, dirty, dangerous #### Cables, pipelines and trillions in key minerals > vast wealth of man-made and natural assets: fiber-optic communications cables, sensitive parts related to rocket and missile tests and fossil fuel deposits and other natural resourcess. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htsesx8f2eqbm6trjtkvnc)) > We know less about the ocean floor than we do about the surface of the moon and Mars,” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1httxh5r48rs2g5n20dcfvh)) > Both Russia and China have invested heavily in commercializing the seafloor ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htvpsgkygrrwzp49jggqx7)) #### U.S. allies are also ramping up efforts > Russia is attracted to hybrid warfare like this because it offers the scope for plausible deniability, involves limited loss of human life, and exploits the gray areas of NATO Article 5 mutual responsibilities,” Sunak warned. “As a result, mobilizing international action against an offensive would be difficult.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h1htxvc3a13sxs5jyxcx2e91))