Governments and defense technology companies are increasing investment in autonomous underwater systems to monitor and protect critical subsea infrastructure. This renewed focus comes after incidents, including the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, raised awareness of the vulnerabilities of the global network of communication cables and energy pipelines on the ocean floor.
According to Katja Bego, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, a “changing threat environment” has brought the issue of seabed security to the forefront after years of receiving less attention. The September 2022 explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, which investigators determined were deliberate, were a significant catalyst for this shift.
The infrastructure in question is extensive. As of early 2024, more than 1.5 million kilometers of submarine communications cables are in service globally, according to data from the telecommunications research firm TeleGeography. These networks, along with a growing number of subsea power cables and energy pipelines, form a foundation for the global economy.
In response, defense and technology companies are developing new systems for underwater operations. In July, Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced plans to acquire majority stakes in four companies for approximately 600 million euros ($689 million) to expand its underwater capabilities. Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero described the company’s goal as moving from the “conventional underwater” world into an “unconventional” one that includes smaller submarines, drones, and advanced subsea telecommunications. Folgiero suggested a future where surface ships act as “motherships” coordinating networks of underwater vehicles.
Germany-based defense technology company Euroatlas is developing an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) called the GrayShark. Verineia Codrean, the company’s chief strategy and partnerships officer, said the vehicle is designed to patrol assigned areas and perform missions without continuous human control, such as inspecting pipelines or identifying unusual objects. Codrean stated that using fleets of autonomous vehicles is a response to the challenge of scale, as traditional naval assets like frigates and submarines are too scarce and expensive to monitor vast areas of the seabed constantly. Euroatlas reports it has signed contracts valued at over 100 million euros for the GrayShark with undisclosed European navies.
The development of these systems has also led to a focus on new types of missions. Codrean noted the emergence of anti-AUV operations, aimed at detecting and identifying unmanned underwater vehicles operated by other nations. “What we are building, so are our non-allies or our enemies building as well,” she said, explaining the need to differentiate between friendly and non-friendly autonomous systems.
Despite the increased investment, significant technical and logistical challenges remain. Operating autonomously underwater is more complex than in the air due to poor visibility and communication difficulties. Bego noted that the technology is not yet as advanced as aerial drone systems. “Progress is being made, but it’s just very difficult,” she said, adding that the “tech hurdles are really quite significant.”
Responsibility for securing the infrastructure, much of which is privately owned, is also a key issue. Bego stated that protecting the entire global network is not feasible and that enhanced cooperation between governments and private infrastructure owners will be necessary. While autonomous systems can serve as a deterrent and a monitoring tool, Bego cautioned that they are not a complete solution.
