Undersea gliders and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) challenge maritime security by infringing EEZs for seabed data.
Author
Pankaj K Jha, Centre for Security Studies, Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Summary
With the development of maritime technology, many nations have started using undersea gliders and unmanned underwater vehicles for civilian and military purposes, respectively. Before the advent of autonomous undersea submersibles, midget submarines and tethered vehicles were used for marine research, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Other means, such as underwater sensors and other technical gadgets, were positioned for listening to and relaying information. The undersea gliders are autonomous systems extensively used for ocean surface surveys and information gathering on the seabed. Apart from these, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) are rapidly developed and used by navies for tailing submarines and underwater intelligence collection. At times, it has been seen that these underwater systems have also infringed on the EEZs of many countries for the purpose of earmarking zones and collecting data related to marine resources. Invariably, in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Region, underwater drones or gliders are increasingly used for research and commercial applications related to ocean sciences. However, with the growth in the ocean economy and the increased challenge to search for rare earths and other minerals, these underwater gliders are likely to be used for scouting and scavenging seabed data samples. This chapter will address the challenges which are going to come up because of undersea gliders and how they challenge the maritime security of nations such as India. Also, it will discuss the kind of countermeasures India must take to protect its marine resources and naval platforms.
Published in: The Routledge Handbook of Maritime India: History, Strategy, and Engagement
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