The BlueWhale, measuring 10.9 metres in length and weighing 5.5 tons, features advanced sensors, sonar systems, and a telescopic mast, enabling real-time data transfer. The trials are part of preparations for the Marine 2035 framework, which envisions enhanced technological capabilities in maritime defence.
The exercise demonstrated the potential for autonomous submarines to transform naval warfare, echoing the impact unmanned systems have had in aerial combat. “Just as unmanned vehicles have changed aerial warfare, new submarine technology is poised to change warfare at sea,” IAI said in a statement.
