Australian Defence minister Peter Dutton announces a $140 million AUD program to construct three “Extra Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle” (XL-AUV) prototypes. The prototypes are planned to be completed within three years, with full production starting straight after. The autonomous submarines are planned to be multi-role, capable of seafloor mapping, surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and mine-counter warfare among other things. Anduril, an American company, will work with small to medium Australian enterprises to manufacture the drone subs entirely in Australia. Unmanned systems are quickly becoming infamous for their advantages in modern combat. As AI gets better, the use of unmanned vehicles in…
Author: DefenceHub Staff
Military technology is an ever-changing landscape. New developments pose previously unseen threats to militaries all over the world, forcing decision-makers to improvise. Mainstays of today’s military forces may fall out of favour, much like the dreadnaughts from the early 20th century. Many militaries haven’t evolved significantly since the Cold War. Though technology has come a long way, a momentous leap hasn’t happened. However, recent events suggest the next major evolution in warfare is already beginning. As a result, any serious regional or global power must plan their procurements masterfully; not doing so will be akin to pouring billions down the…
Tanks are evolving, albeit slowly. Tank armour and protection systems have come a long way. However, cannons haven’t changed much. Tank barrels have increased in diameter, with this trend continuing in the latest generation of tanks. However, the limit for practical round size has more or less climaxed. So what could be the next step to increase the lethality of cannons? Firstly, let’s look at why tank cannons are still relevant in the age of guided missiles. Velocity: Rounds fired from tank barrels are much faster than ATGMs. For instance, the Rheinmetall Rh-120 can launch rounds at over 1700 meters per…