New Torpedo Guidance Technology Using Artificial Intelligence by Chinese Scientists

Naval Forces of Developed Countries Have Various Means to Counter Torpedo Armament

Naval forces of developed countries have a variety of means to counter torpedo armament. This has led to the necessity of improving torpedo guidance systems so that they can ignore all types of interference, successfully locate targets, and conduct attacks. An interesting solution to this problem has recently been developed by Chinese scientists. They propose using artificial intelligence (AI) for guidance.

Development of New Technologies for Torpedo Armament

The search for and development of new technologies to improve torpedo armament were carried out by two organizations. The main part of the work was conducted by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The necessary support was provided by the Equipment Department of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Over an unspecified period, the two organizations developed the theoretical part of the project and then conducted the necessary research and tests. The main part of these activities was carried out using computer modeling based on a large volume of available data.

The general results of the project and other information subject to disclosure were published in the April issue of the scientific journal Command Control & Simulation. Recently, foreign press has taken notice of this publication, and thanks to it, the new technologies have become known abroad.

Future Plans of Scientists and Engineers

The further plans of scientists and engineers are not yet disclosed. It is likely that the new solutions will be developed further and brought to practical testing in the foreseeable future. Subsequently, real control devices for torpedoes based on such technologies may appear.

However, it is currently unclear how the PLAN views the new development and whether it considers further development necessary. Most likely, no plans of this kind will be disclosed. If the new guidance systems are eventually implemented in practice, this will become known as a fait accompli.

Modern Torpedoes and Countermeasures

Modern torpedoes are equipped with hydroacoustic guidance systems. They search for surface or underwater targets based on the noise they produce or their wake. The target is then acquired and the torpedo is directed towards it.

In turn, several main solutions are used to counter enemy torpedoes. There are systems for generating hydroacoustic interference, as well as special decoys. All these means complicate the detection and/or tracking of real ships and subsequent attacks. Meanwhile, countermeasures are constantly being improved and increasingly hinder the conduct of attacks.

Moreover, torpedoes themselves create noise due to their high speed, which interferes with the operation of their guidance systems. This problem is especially pronounced in the development of high-speed rocket torpedoes. Such armament has long attracted the attention of designers and the military, but the implementation of such projects faces a number of difficulties, including in the field of hydroacoustics.

Thus, modern torpedoes need hydroacoustic guidance systems with active and passive modes, as well as resistance to various types of interference. In addition, other mechanisms of the torpedo and its design should not interfere with the guidance operation.

Development of the New Guidance System

To create a new improved guidance system, Chinese specialists conducted significant preparatory work. Modern software and hardware complexes based on artificial intelligence, capable of creating and analyzing large volumes of data, were used in these studies.

Scientific structures of the PLAN provided a set of various initial data. It included hydroacoustic signatures of various objects, information on different hydrodynamic processes, characteristics of various products, etc. All these data were previously collected during field tests and other activities.

The AI-based software analyzed this data and learned to recognize the hydroacoustic signatures of different objects. Complex data processing and result output algorithms were created. Another complex of a similar kind was programmed to create signatures that imitate real ships, torpedoes, etc., with varying degrees of credibility.

Then, the two software and hardware complexes began a kind of competition. One "created" the hydroacoustic situation or issued real signatures, while the other analyzed the incoming data and tried to separate interference and decoys from real targets. This research took a lot of time but yielded the desired results.

As a result of the joint work of the two complexes, a large database of features was created, which the guidance system can use to distinguish real targets from decoys. Now these data and recognition methods should find application in real torpedo armament projects.

Principles of the New Recognition System

The developers of the project described the general principles of the new recognition system. Overall, everything looks quite simple and understandable, but the implementation of these ideas required certain efforts.

It is reported that the new system is based on a neural network with AI functionality. It was trained to analyze hydroacoustic signals, divided into seven different stages. Signals are sequentially normalized by amplitude, noise is filtered out, transformations are performed according to special mathematical models, etc.

In the final stage, the artificial intelligence searches for anomalies in the frequency modulation of the resulting signals. As research has shown, it is these anomalies that allow distinguishing a real object from a decoy of a modern or prospective model.

It is claimed that the AI-based analysis system is highly efficient. The probability of successful recognition of the most complex decoys has increased from 61% to 80%. For simpler objects, this figure is even higher. At the same time, the new software and hardware complex is autonomous and does not require assistance from outside. Moreover, it has a fairly high speed of operation and is suitable for practical application.

Advantages of the New Technology

Thus, Chinese scientists have developed a new technology for working with hydroacoustic signals and tested it in research. It is likely that the new hardware and software will now be improved and then brought to practical tests. One can expect that at some stage, such a complex will even be installed on an experimental torpedo carrier.

The advantages of the new technology are quite clear, and it is understandable why it is of interest to the PLAN. Overall, the new means can significantly increase the effectiveness of torpedo guidance systems. This applies not only to traditional munitions but also to more complex items such as high-speed rocket torpedoes.

In the new project, AI is supposed to work according to special algorithms and effectively filter out various types of interference, including those created by the torpedo itself. Accordingly, the probability of successful detection and tracking of the target or its wake increases — and so do the chances of a successful attack.

Future Prospects

According to available data, China's defense industry is currently actively working on the creation of new torpedoes for submarines and surface ships. Reports mention the development of both traditional designs and entirely new high-speed models. An increase in overall combat effectiveness is achieved through the improvement of various technical characteristics.

One can expect that in one of the next projects of this kind, the latest developments in the field of AI and neural networks will be attempted to be implemented in practice. If such a project is successful, the PLAN will be able to increase the combat potential of torpedoes and thereby improve its combat effectiveness.