BREAKING THE CHAIN: WHEN TERRORISTS ARE WIRED FOR WAR AGAINST PORTS AND HARBORS

摘要

Unmanned Vehicles (UxVs) are now embraced by defense ministries worldwide as a key component of modern defensive and offensive systems. In the maritime security arena, both Unmanned Surface Vessels (robotic boats), and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles have been identified as useful elements of protection for ports and harbors. Using easily obtained subsystems from a variety of manufacturers, rogue robotic vehicles are now relatively easy to make and use. Despite the embracing of UxVs as a defense, insufficient attention has been paid to the potential of attacks by unmanned systems on maritime infrastructure. Concepts of operations for disruption of ports and harbors will be discussed, as well as methods proposed for risk analysis, mitigation, and response to this novel threat of asymmetric warfare.