US develops submarine drone swarms to keep tabs on China. Russia

Daily Mail:

US Navy developing fleet of drone ‘mother submarines’ that can release smaller robots to lay mines or launch missiles to counter China threat
  • US defence secretary Ashton Carter hinted at using them in disputed sea
  • Their initial function would be surveillance but they could have other uses
  • Drone subs can operate in shallow water where manned submarines can't
  • Would help Pentagon keep step ahead of military rivals China and Russia
Keeping them powered may be a challenge at this point, but the concept looks interesting.  It appears to me that the Defense Department is announcing these innovations at a time of perceived weakness in relation to adversaries.  It is almost like high-tech saber rattling.

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