Future Tech | Decemaber 2017

Cmde Sujeet Samaddar (retd)

Disruptive technologies are on the horizon that will dramatically alter the way maritime operations are conducted in the near future. McKinsey in their report have suggested that these disruptive technologies can be identified as technologies in the sphere of Energy Storage, Materials, Big Data, Autonomous Vehicles, Mobile Internet and Internet of Things, Cloud computing, Advanced robotics, 3D printing, renewable energy etc.

In identifying a disruptive technology that will specifically impact naval operations, its force structure and composition the key criteria would be those technologies that change the dynamics of conflict or competition in ways that are revolutionary, profound and unexpected. Also, those that radically modify the concept of operations, define requirements of new skills, capabilities and capacities, impact the national defence industrial complex which in turn finally change the strategic naval balance between nations. Systems, sensors and machinery that go into future naval operations and new assets need to be carefully forecast to keep ahead of the technology curve and must also remain operationally relevant for at least a decade or two ahead after induction. This requires early recognition of emerging disruptive technologies that potentially can bring about yet another revolution in military affairs.

For this article I have classified relevant disruptive technologies into four baskets. Foremost are technologies that drive information and communications which is a critical element in designing the battle space and the conduct of war itself. Effective and secure communications, presently relying on radio and satellite technologies, are central and critical to all forms of maritime operations. With the emphasis on network enabled operations, highly capable and large capacity networks are becoming a sine-quo-non for modern command, control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems (C4ISR), which must function faultlessly, ensure secure and stable connectivity, interoperability between diverse platforms and widely deployed fleets and, yet, be robust to meet rising voice, data and video requirements in combat. The potential disruptive technologies for maritime communications could include high throughput satellite communications, big data analytics, machine learning and robotics, and n