Subsea Expo 24: Adapting to the Landscape of CUI Warfare

On 22nd February, Chris Lade, head of Sales & Marketing (Naval) spoke at Subsea Expo on the importance of adapting to the landscape of CUI warfare. 

The realm of Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI) unfolds as a complex network, spanning pipelines, communication cables, and power channels beneath the ocean. This presentation delves into the evolving dynamics of the protection of this infrastructure, known as CUI Warfare, emphasising the influence of commercial advancements on the sector. 

The undersea domain, once primarily associated with peaceful ventures like communication and energy transport, has increasingly become a strategic battleground over the last year. Key examples include the Nord-Stream pipeline damage in late 2022, and further damage to a gas pipeline and a telecom cable connecting Estonia and both Finland and Sweden in October 2023, leading to a sabotage investigation. Protection strategies for CUI is fast becoming a priority for Defence agencies across the world, with the UK welcoming RFA Proteus to its fleet, functioning as the base for remotely-operated vehicles dedicated to underwater surveillance. 

It is clear that commercially-driven technological breakthroughs, such as advanced surveying methods and underwater robotics, have reshaped defensive approaches, redefining the defence landscape. The next year will see the world debate over who is responsible for its safeguarding CUI, yet the key will be in international collaboration and forward-thinking initiatives to ensure effective protection. 

One key example was NATO’s underwater exercises in September 2023. Saab’s underwater systems, alongside various commercial businesses, supported elements of two ‘operational experimentation exercises’ involving over 2,000 civilian and military personnel from 15 NATO nations, Ireland and Sweden. The aim of the exercises was to explore the use of unmanned systems to conduct CUI Warfare in an operational context. Details of what that involved will be explored. 

In a landscape where CUI Warfare's strategic importance grows, this session advocates for proactive international collaboration and commercial initiatives in navigating the evolving CUI landscape.