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AI could cut a submarine’s survival chance to 5%: Chinese defence scientists
Era of ‘invisible’ submarines ending with next-gen tech that could prevent one in 20 from escaping attack
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Stephen Chenin Beijing
A new defence industry study from China suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon make it extremely hard – even nearly impossible – for submarines to survive in a future naval conflict.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Electronics Optics & Control and led by senior engineer Meng Hao with the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute in August, unveiled for the first time an advanced AI-driven anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system capable of hunting even the quietest submarines through intelligent, real-time decision-making.
According to the research, the new ASW system could reduce a submarine’s chance of escape to just 5 per cent, meaning only one out of every 20 submarines would likely escape detection and attack.
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As global powers intensify their race to put AI into military use, the study suggests the era of the “invisible” submarine – long a cornerstone of naval deterrence – may be coming to an end.
Instead of relying on old search patterns, the AI system acts like a smart commander in the ocean.
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It uses data from sonar buoys dropped by helicopters, underwater sensors, radar and even ocean temperature and salt levels to build a live picture of what is happening under the sea.
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