Uncrewed fleets still need bandwidth, computing, and accountability

Very-low-frequency and extremely-low-frequency networks can reach submerged vessels, but they are expensive and carry little data. Drones create their own demand for satellite and other communication bandwidth, with more complex vessels requiring more data to pass between the craft and its controllers. Giving an uncrewed vessel greater autonomy requires more onboard computing, electrical power, and cooling. A larger autonomous ship also raises questions about whether a human must be in charge, who is responsible for a collision, and what happens if the vessel is hacked or attacked. Responses to attacks on uncrewed systems have ranged from tolerating losses to serious escalation, complicating assumptions about what an attack will provoke. Removing the crew therefore leaves substantial support and accountability problems to solve.