“Submarines can remain undetectable to modern space elements and long-range and hypersonic missiles [weapons]. “Even as submarine detection capabilities improve, their greater depth, distances and deception designs keep them hidden beyond anything else on land, in the sky or in space. “Britain and its allies continue to have a significant industrial and technical advantage in subsurface technology over our adversaries, developed over decades of expertise in developing capabilities and operations. “The integration of our capabilities, as well as our torpedo and sonar technologies can compromise any enemy sea power and can appear inside A2AD bubbles to engage surface targets in a way that no other means can replicate.”
Liz Truss promises extra cash for defence
Liz Truss, the foreign secretary expected to win the Tory leadership race, has promised to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, giving the Foreign Office around £20 billion. A new paper by the Rusi think tank says income tax would need to rise by 5p to meet Mrs Truss’ pledge. Professor Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director of RUSI, warned that “the most likely source of funding for increased defense spending would be increased tax revenue”. “If the entire cost of the defense increase was financed in this way, it would amount to an additional one percent of GDP by the end of the decade,” he said. “This amounts to around 5p added to all income tax rates or, or, a 5p increase in the standard rate of VAT.” Mr Wallace said any future defense spending commitments would depend on the outcome of the review, but could include new submarines or underwater autonomous vehicles. “Autonomy under the sea is as important as anywhere else,” he said. “If, suddenly, something becomes very vulnerable or more vulnerable than it was, is there a way to achieve the same result? It may just be a matter of different weapon systems. Mr Wallace said “barriers to entry”, such as A2AD systems, “still require forward thinking”. “Autonomous underground ships still need to communicate back, they cannot think for themselves and are therefore vulnerable. “How dangerous can the next generation of submarines be? What if they could launch surveillance payloads, better insertion and support capabilities for special forces, or suicide drones?”
