I don't think so. How do you defeat a drone swarm? It's not small arms we really need.
Also, Escalation worries were what allowed the Somali crisis to get out of hand in 2008-9. Ships were defenceless. Private security and distribution of armed protection was the solution. Escalation to a level required to fight the US Navy never occurred. I think the industry is more mature and realistic about managing this now.
Anyone looking at drone swarms, and who remembers response times from military support in the Red Sea, knows that merchant ships will be unable to wait for help. It needs to be on board.
Anti drone defences using blunt EM pulses etc are unacceptable in an age of electronic navigation. Needs to be highly targeted. I can see a sort of electromagnetic 'goalkeeper' weapon being fitted to ships as a closed black box. Possibly even containerised, with a single technician on board to operate it. AI used for targeting.
I'll bet nuclear cargo ships have something in the works already.
As the drone threat develops, we'll need to arm merchant ships again. No doubt. Only decentralised defence will stand a chance.
It may come back into the discussion, but it raises some difficult questions around escalation, training, and control.
I suspect the bigger shift is toward more distributed awareness and protection, rather than simply putting weapons back on merchant hulls.
I don't think so. How do you defeat a drone swarm? It's not small arms we really need.
Also, Escalation worries were what allowed the Somali crisis to get out of hand in 2008-9. Ships were defenceless. Private security and distribution of armed protection was the solution. Escalation to a level required to fight the US Navy never occurred. I think the industry is more mature and realistic about managing this now.
Anyone looking at drone swarms, and who remembers response times from military support in the Red Sea, knows that merchant ships will be unable to wait for help. It needs to be on board.
Anti drone defences using blunt EM pulses etc are unacceptable in an age of electronic navigation. Needs to be highly targeted. I can see a sort of electromagnetic 'goalkeeper' weapon being fitted to ships as a closed black box. Possibly even containerised, with a single technician on board to operate it. AI used for targeting.
I'll bet nuclear cargo ships have something in the works already.
Really fair points Scott, something to think about for all concerned.
Perhaps just like airforce thereshould be a dedicated underwater force