Индийский флот разрабатывает искусственный интеллект для управления роем подводных дронов против мин

The Indian Navy is exploring the development of an autonomous and intelligent underwater drone swarm capable of detecting underwater mines and coordinating precision payload delivery against them, according to a new technology requirement. The proposed system is envisioned as a network of autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with advanced image-processing and artificial-intelligence capabilities. The drones would operate collectively rather than as independent platforms, allowing the swarm to search underwater areas, identify potential mine threats and coordinate subsequent actions. A key requirement is that the underwater swarm must be capable of delivering a payload of at least 7 kg onto the seabed at a minimum depth of 60 metres. The payload-delivery capability is intended to allow the system to act against detected mines after they have been identified and localised. The requirement represents a significant shift from conventional mine-countermeasure operations, which can involve specialised ships, remotely operated underwater vehicles and divers operating in potentially hazardous waters. Autonomous underwater systems could allow larger areas to be searched while reducing the direct exposure of personnel and expensive manned platforms to mine threats. Artificial intelligence will be central to the proposed architecture. The swarm is expected to use underwater imagery and onboard processing to identify objects of interest and distinguish potential mines from natural seabed features and other underwater objects. The ability to process information locally would also reduce dependence on continuous communication with a surface control station, an important consideration because underwater communications are considerably more difficult than conventional radio links. The requirement for swarm intelligence adds another layer of complexity. Multiple underwater drones would need to share information, maintain an understanding of the search area and coordinate their actions. A drone detecting a suspected mine could potentially pass its location and other information to the rest of the swarm, allowing additional vehicles to contribute to identification and localisation. Once a mine is confirmed, the system is expected to coordinate the delivery of the required payload to the seabed. This could allow the swarm to perform the detection and subsequent neutralisation mission as an integrated process. Operating at a depth of at least 60 metres also places significant demands on the underwater vehicles. Their propulsion, pressure-resistant structures, navigation systems, sensors and power systems would have to operate reliably while maintaining sufficient endurance for search missions. The proposed capability could be particularly valuable for protecting India’s naval bases, harbour approaches, shipping routes and other strategically important maritime areas. Mine warfare remains a major threat because relatively inexpensive underwater mines can restrict access to ports and sea lanes or force naval forces to operate more cautiously. The Indian Navy’s interest in an AI-enabled underwater swarm therefore points toward a future mine-countermeasure architecture based on distributed autonomous systems rather than relying exclusively on specialised manned platforms.