The United States aims to rewrite the "anti-access area-denial" strategy (A2AD) on the globe with the introduction of submerged drones. The program Upward Falling Payloads of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is in advanced development phase. According to the specifications, it would give the US the ability to have a fleet of kamikaze drones in grids around the planet.
Released by a carrier, the protection module with the drone inside goes down deep, anchoring itself to the bottom. The UFP communicates its position constantly and enters stand-by with an autonomy (estimated) of years. When necessary, the military would activate the UFP: from the depths of the sea, a drone (or swarm) would emerge able to fly and hit an enemy.
In reality, the UFP has been conceived as a protective shell for various useful loads, such as for example weapons systems of different nature encapsulated within it or for missions of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).
The main problems of DARPA for the module are four: survival in the depths of the sea for long periods of time, the communication system, the process of fixing to the bottom and the integrity of the payload.
The shell will have to survive the pressure for long periods of time, while the activation will have to take place even after years of hibernation. In the specifications of the UFP program, also the ability of the shell to communicate all information on its integrity, autonomy and the status of the load stored inside.
The UFP is not officially operational (it is probably secretly tested by the US Navy), but the military places extreme trust in what could become a game changer of the seas in the future US naval strategy.
Almost half of the world's oceans are deeper than 2,5 miles: the 71 percent of the planet's surface is covered with water. This means that the Pentagon could safely store an indefinite number of drones. The US Navy does not have the funds to continue to operate in the world as it would like: a situation that will become more acute in the next ten years, when the US submarine force will be reduced by 30%. The UFPs could fill these gaps on the coverage of the grids and provide the military with the ability to hit targets without the physical necessity of a carrier in the area. The only thing to do would be to activate the UAV encapsulated in the module and direct it to the target.
Considering the concealment of the system, the ability to remain in the depths of the sea, the potential explosive or projection load, the FOC could carry out attacks against targets that would not identify it. This could give rise to further investigations of a legal nature. Officially the program Upward Falling Payloads of DARPA has passed phase two (testing of all systems at sea). Phase three, currently in progress, should demonstrate the fixing capabilities, the communication and release system for different payloads. The shell tested to date has a weight of 2500 kg: this means that a heavy bomber could release twelve UFPs in one pass.
The UFP is part of the swarm warfare, new asymmetric tactic developed by the US Navy conceived in the Program Merlin. Specifically, it is based on the ability to attack an X vector with dozens of low-cost drones. Even the best defense systems like theAegis, they couldn't do anything against robotic swarms. Aegis he is believed to be able to eliminate all kinds of threats with his missiles and cannons from 20 millimeters except for a robotic swarm. The small drones have a minuscule radar signature: even if identified they could not be engaged by missiles or cannons because they are too close.
It has been estimated that between the detection and impact of drones, even the most powerful US Navy ship would have a reaction time of 15 seconds. The program Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology - LOCUSTA, aims to create a swarm of war formed by thirty drones completely automated at the same cost of a single missile, about 1,2 million dollars.
Parallel programs such as theAerial Combat Swarms, which involves the use of swarms for self-defense against other enemy drones. The UFP was only a natural consequence.
(image: DARPA)
