Asger Risom
The U.S. Navy is testing ways for underwater drones to operate alongside Navy SEAL mini-submarines, part of a broader push toward crewed-uncrewed teaming in future covert maritime operations.
The U.S. Navy is developing a future where Navy SEAL teams inside mini-submarines operate alongside autonomous underwater drones, opening the door to a new generation of covert undersea missions built around crewed-uncrewed teaming.
Military planners believe pairing human operators with robotic underwater systems could dramatically extend operational reach while reducing the risks facing special operations teams in hostile waters.
A new type of underwater warfare
According to The War Zone, the Navy is already testing ways for unmanned underwater vehicles, or UUVs, to work directly alongside SEAL Delivery Vehicles used by special operations forces.
The concept mirrors the growing use of “loyal wingman” drones in air combat, where autonomous systems support manned platforms during missions.
Underwater, the idea would allow SEAL teams traveling inside mini-submarines to deploy drones ahead of them for reconnaissance, mine detection or surveillance before entering heavily defended areas themselves.
“If you have an unmanned system with you underwater, then I suppose you can use your imagination,” Navy Captain Mike Linn said during SOF Week.
Why underwater drones matter
One of the Navy’s biggest goals is reducing the vulnerability of manned special operations missions.
Harbors, chokepoints and coastal defenses are becoming increasingly difficult to penetrate safely due to improved sensors, underwater monitoring systems and autonomous defenses.
Smaller drones could potentially move through these environments first, scouting for mines, enemy vessels or hidden surveillance systems before human operators enter the area.
“It can be an overall risk-reducer,” Linn said.
The drones could also help expand the reach of SEAL teams by carrying sensors or conducting missions independently after being launched from crewed submersibles.
The mini-submarines behind the missions
The Navy currently operates two primary classes of SEAL submersibles.
The first is the Mk 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersible — a so-called “wet” mini-sub where operators remain submerged in water during transit.
The second is the much larger Dry Combat Submersible, which keeps operators inside a sealed pressurized cabin, allowing for longer missions while reducing fatigue and exposure.
These systems are designed for covert insertion missions and can transport SEAL teams close to hostile coastlines or strategic targets.
The Navy already deploys various underwater drones separately, but integrating them into coordinated operations with human crews remains far more complicated.
The biggest problem: communication underwater
One of the major challenges facing the project is communication.
Unlike aircraft or surface ships, underwater systems cannot easily exchange large amounts of data in real time.
Capt. Linn described current underwater systems as effectively “deaf, dumb, and blind” when it comes to coordinating precisely with one another.
The Navy is currently exploring acoustic and light-based communication systems capable of transferring data underwater while remaining difficult for adversaries to detect.
There are also practical questions surrounding how drones would physically travel alongside mini-submarines during missions.
“You’ve got to consider your volume in the SDV, which is not great,” Linn said. “Are you going to strap it to the outside?”
A growing robotic future underwater
Despite the technical hurdles, the project reflects the broader direction of modern military development.
Autonomous systems are increasingly being integrated into every domain of warfare — air, land, sea and now deep underwater operations.
For special operations forces, underwater drones could eventually act as scouts, decoys, intelligence collectors or even independent strike platforms supporting human teams during covert missions.
The technology remains years away from full operational maturity.
But the Navy is already preparing for a future where elite operators and autonomous machines conduct missions together beneath the surface.
Sources: The War Zone
