Sebed warfare encompasses military operations conducted on, from, or targeting the ocean floor, focusing on critical undersea infrastructure. This warfare threatens the security of global connectivity and could reshape the geopolitical landscape.
Tools used: Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Submersibles, etc.
Reasons for the Rise
(a) Increased Reliance on undersea infrastructure, Like communication cables, energy pipelines, etc.
(b) Advancement of deep-sea technology: It has enhanced the scope of seabed warfare from cable-cutting and censorship to sophisticated operations like surveillance, reconnaissance, and cyber warfare. (c) Potential of Ocean Economy: As per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it can reach $3,000 billion by 2030.
(d) Several activities like oil and gas exploration, submarine cables for fibre optic communication, etc., hold immense potential for the future.
Need for Building Seabed Warfare Capability
- Increased geopolitical interests: The French Navy unveiled its strategic seabed warfare doctrine in 2022, with countries like USA, UK, China, etc., showing similar interest.
- Security of Indo-Pacific: The Region is home to critical undersea cables, essential pipelines, energy routes, etc. Growing China’s influence in the region has raised concerns for its security.
- Rising Tensions: Evident in the form of recent incidents like explosions on Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines (2022); sabotage incidents against undersea cables in the Baltic Sea (2023, 2024), etc.
- Building Seabed Surveillance: To track submarine movements, laying the foundation for modern naval strategy.
Significance of seabed warfare
1. Protection of Critical Infrastructure
- Submarine communication cables (SCCs) manage over 95% of India’s international data traffic. Damage to these cables could disrupt financial markets, communication networks, and national security operations.
- Undersea pipelines and energy infrastructure in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) are vital for energy imports and need safeguarding.
2. Geopolitical and Strategic Considerations
- India is located at the crossroads of major global maritime trade routes. So ensuring control over seabed domains enhances its position in the IOR.
- With growing Chinese undersea activities in the region (e.g., surveillance, submarine deployments), India views seabed warfare as crucial to maintaining maritime dominance and countering the “String of Pearls” strategy.
3. Naval Modernization and Maritime Domain Awareness
- India is heavily investing in advanced capabilities like Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and seabed mapping, which will enhance situational awareness.
- The National Maritime Domain Awareness (NDMA) initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s ability to monitor undersea threats.
4. Economic Security
- Disruptions to undersea infrastructure could indeed harm trade flows, as the Indian Ocean carries nearly 70% of global oil and 50% of global container traffic.
- The Blue Economy, including deep-sea mining, is a future economic frontier for India, making seabed security vital.
5. Defense Policy and Collaboration
- India is strengthening cooperation with QUAD nations (U.S., Japan, Australia) to address undersea security through joint intelligence-sharing and maritime exercises like Malabar.
- Indian agencies like the Indian Navy and DRDO are focusing on developing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and seabed monitoring capabilities.
Challenges in Seabed Warfare
1. Technological Limitations
- Lack of Advanced Undersea Capabilities: The US and Russia are way ahead of India in advanced UUVs and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for seabed surveillance and intervention.
- Seabed Mapping and Monitoring: High-resolution seabed mapping and continuous monitoring are prerequisites for seabed warfare. But India’s current underwater surveillance capabilities are not that capable.
2. Operational Challenges
- Vast Maritime Area: India’s maritime territory includes 2.37 million sq. km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a large coastline, consequently making seabed surveillance and protection resource-intensive.
- Depth and Environment: High pressure, low temperatures, and poor visibility make operations at depth(up to 6k km in parts of the indian ocean) challenging.
3. Geopolitical Pressures
- Chinese Undersea Activities: China’s “String of Pearls” strategy and increasing deployment of survey ships, submarines, as well as dual-use vessels in the Indian Ocean pose a significant challenge.
- Regional Rivalries: Rising competition with regional powers like Pakistan and China requires constant surveillance and quick response capabilities.
4. Resource and Infrastructure Gaps
- Limited Indigenous Development: India’s defense research in this (led by DRDO) is still in its early stages.
- Investment Gaps: Building comprehensive seabed warfare capabilities demands significant financial investment in research, surveillance systems, and operational assets.
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Way forward
1. Technological Advancement and Capability Building
(A) Invest in Underwater Surveillance Systems: Develop and deploy Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). As a result, they will ensure real-time seabed monitoring and intelligence gathering. Expand the use of Seabed Sensor Networks for detecting and tracking hostile activities, including submarines and cable tampering.
(B) Enhance Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Capabilities: Upgrade the Indian Navy’s submarine fleet with advanced deep-sea submersibles for surveillance as well as seabed operations.
2. Operational Preparedness and Infrastructure Development
(A) Create a Specialized Seabed Warfare Unit: A dedicated seabed warfare task force within the Indian Navy should be there. Equally integrate seabed operations under joint maritime command for improved coordination with the Coast Guard and intelligence agencies.
(B) Strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): Enhance the National Maritime Domain Awareness (NDMA) program. Therefore, It will help monitor undersea threats through advanced sensors, satellites, and UUVs. Deploy deep-sea sensor grids along critical undersea routes like the Malacca Strait and Andaman Sea for early detection.
3. Research, Innovation, and Human Resource Development
(A) Invest in Deep-Sea Research: Increase funding for oceanographic studies and seabed exploration through collaborations with important institutions. Also, promote public-private partnerships for R&D in deep-sea technologies, such as deep-diving systems and hydrographic surveys.
(B) Develop Specialized Training Programs: Establish seabed warfare training to build expertise in deep-sea navigation and seabed monitoring. Conduct joint exercises focusing on seabed operations with friendly navies for capacity building and tactical innovation.
Conclusion
A robust seabed warfare strategy will protect India’s maritime interests, secure critical undersea infrastructure, and counter emerging threats in the Indian Ocean Region. Aided by technological innovation, policy reforms, regional cooperation and operational readiness, India can establish itself as a dominant maritime power capable of securing the seabed domain effectively.