The impact of new technologies for national defence: An analysis of current and future deployment of unmanned maritime vehicles
New technologies have long played a part in defining the security landscape, and leadership in technological innovation has been a crucial national defence asset for most nations. The marine environment, both on the high seas and underwater, has been the proving ground of many increasingly autonomous technologies such as Unmanned Maritime Vehicles, (UMVs). The present study analysed both current and future deployment of UMVs vis-à-vis the impact of new technologies for national defence. The present study analysed issues associated with the deployment of UMVs for enhanced national defence in the maritime domain. The study adopted the field survey research design by conducting interviews and administering questionnaires to 3 groups in the Nigerian Navy technical units. The study revealed the effects of UMVs on national defence in the maritime domain. The effects include Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Mine Counter Measure (MCM) and anti-submarine warfare. The challenges associated with the deployment of UMVs were identified as accidental attacks and unintended interactions, cycle of measures and counter measures as well as environmental protection. Furthermore, the study proffered strategies to mitigate the challenges of employment of UMVs for national defence. These strategies include development of new curriculum, redesigning programmes to suit multi-vehicle control and finally the need for proficient testing and validation of new technologies.
Keywords: Anti-submarine Warfare, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Mine Counter Measure, Unmanned Maritime Vehicles,
*Correspondence: abdulmajid.nainna@airforce.mil.ng; +2348030679898
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