Defence Japan working on new submarine drone

As the name "long endurance" implies, this UUV is intended to operate autonomously over a long period of time, and currently, in its basic configuration (10 meters in length), it has achieved a week of continuous operation at 3 to 4 knots. However, this is only a milestone, and ATLA aims to achieve even longer continuous operation. Lithium-ion batteries power the UUV, but ATLA is currently considering using liquid/solid fuel batteries and AIP and diesel-electric engines to achieve a longer cruising range. [...] Additional payload modules are being researched, including an "underwater equipment installation module" to carry heavy payloads such as sensors/communication nodes, an "ocean observation module" to have various oceanographic survey equipment, a "surface launch module" for launching drones or other equipment at the surface, and an "ocean surveillance module" to conduct effective Maritime Domain Awareness（MDA).

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thomas said:

With Japan's demographic challenges of an ageing population and declining birthrate, there's a growing difficulty in operating unmanned equipment, particularly in training submarine crews and maintaining vessel numbers. Consequently, Japan is intensifying its research and development efforts on UUVs to enhance its underwater defence capabilities in the future potentially.

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