January 31, 2021
Is the Future of the Navy In Air-Independent Propulsion Submarines?
They're stealthy and cheap.
by Robert Farley Follow drfarls on Twitter L
Key point: Air-Independent Propulsion is a good alternative to the currently in-use nuclear submarines.
Over the past decade, air-independent propulsion (AIP) for submarines has spread rapidly around the world. The technology, which allows conventionally powered submarines to operate without access to outside air, has the potential the shift the balance away from the big nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) that have dominated undersea warfare since the 1950s, and back towards small conventional boats. In global terms, this might again make submarines the great strategic equalizer; small, cheap weapons that can destroy the expensive warships of the world’s most powerful navies. Does this mean that the United States should invest in these kinds of boats? Probably not.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/future-navy-air-independent-propulsion-submarines-177365
