…That’s because they have realized that even the best surface vessels and warplanes are vulnerable to anti-ship or anti-aircraft missiles, says Bryan Clark of Washington’s Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, an independent think-tank.
“So they are shifting to more undersea capabilities to do some of the offensive operations that they want to carry out,” he said…
…”Submarines will become more like a little aircraft carrier, carrying different combinations of missiles and underwater drones,” Clark said…
…Most of the drones the Navy has been developing are roughly the size of a torpedo and can travel for just one day, Clark says.
They can “do surveillance or go try to attack if they want to.”…
…One is for a large-diameter vehicle around 25 feet (7.5 meters) long and 21 inches (53 centimeters) wide, Clark says. “It can go out for a month.”