The Sub of the Future Is a Drone Mothership Inspired by a Sperm Whale
The SMX-31 could be the first of a new generation of submarines.
By Kyle Mizokami
Nov 3, 2018
A French defense contractor is showing off a submarine design unlike any other. Inspired by the sperm whale, the SMX-31, also known as the Electric, is heavily armed and supports a wide range of unmanned vehicles and can even function as a mothership to naval special forces. The submarine is also heavily automated, with a crew of just 15.
Unveiled at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris, SMX-31 breaks almost every convention of submarine design. The vessel lacks a conventional sail, giving it an organic, whale-like appearance—indeed, its design was influenced by the deep-diving sperm whale. It has retractable hydroplanes that fold into the hull, a hexagonal-patterned skin with built-in sensor antennas, and a pair of rim-drive propulsors (pump jets) housed in the stern of the craft.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a24523409/new-submarine-concept-vehicle-smx-31/
