The outcome should contribute to:
- Improvement in detection capabilities in SBW scenarios.
- Improvement of reaction capabilities in SBW scenarios.
- Improvement in EU technological autonomy for critical seabed infrastructure protection.
- Improvement of design of integrated defence systems for SBW scenarios operating at deep water depths.
Following the emergence of geopolitical instability in Europe and recent acts of sabotage on underwater critical infrastructures, it is evident that the vulnerability of assets such as underwater strategic pipelines, cables, communication backbones and offshore infrastructures, requires resolute measures to ensure their safety and resilience with a specific focus on Seabed Warfare (SBW).
Next generation silent submarines are an example of new forms of threats that need to be countered by effective response capabilities supporting the various defensive missions. Other examples of threats are unmanned vehicle (UxV) carriers that can target energy pipelines, spoofing data from the submerged communication backbones and cutting power energy cables.
International cooperation projects under the auspices of the EU (PESCO, EDF) and NATO (JCG MUS, Smart Defence) have already been initiated to counter these emerging threats.
However, further dedicated research focusing on the evaluation of potential technologies to cope with the above needs is necessary. In particular, this research must prioritise on delivering of technologies to EU
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