The British Navy has unveiled a series of futuristic submarine concepts which mimic real marine lifeforms and could radically transform underwater warfare in the future.
The designs include a crewed mothership shaped like a manta ray, unmanned eel-like vessels equipped with sensor pods which dissolve on demand to avoid enemy detection, and fish-shaped torpedoes sent to swarm against enemy targets, these concepts aim to inspire the world's future underwater combat environment.
The mothership's 3D-printed hull would be a combination of light but strong acrylic materials bonded to super strong alloys capable of withstanding the extreme pressure of depths of 1000m or more.
It would have a reduced crew of around 20 people, capable of brain-computer control of the submarine's command system.
There would be two propulsion systems - one for silent and efficient cruising for thousands of miles at up to 30 knots, and the other for short bursts of high speed in a 'fight or flight' scenario. Powered in cruise mode by hybrid algae-electric propulsion, the final drive would use a large-scale tunnel drive that works similarly to a Dyson bladeless fan.
A recovery bay in the underside would act as a docking station for the transfer of people, weapons payloads and general stores, and weapons bays integrated into the top of the submarine. The bays would hold a variety of weapons and sensors, plus conventional torpedo tubes for self-defence decoys which can be 3D-printed on board.
It would be capable of launching unmanned underwater vehicles shaped like eels, which carry pods packed with sensors for different missions. These pods can damage an enemy vessel, or dissolve on demand at the end of an operation to evade detection.
"It's predicted that in 50 years' time there will be more competition between nations to live and work at sea or under it," said Commander Peter Pipkin, the Royal Navy's Fleet Robotics Officer.
"So it's with this in mind that the Royal Navy is looking at its future role, and how it will be best equipped to protect Britain's interests around the globe."
[An artist's impression of the manta ray-shaped mothership. Image: Royal Navy]