U.S. Navy Wants Anti-Submarine Weapon That Drones Can Fire Above Water

Aerospace & Defense U.S. Navy Wants Anti-Submarine Weapon That Drones Can Fire Above Water By Zita Ballinger Fletcher ,

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Zita Ballinger Fletcher is a defense technology reporter Follow Author Aug 31, 2026, 10:26pm EDT Aug 31, 2026, 10:27pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The U.S. Navy is developing the Silent Anvil Air-Launched Torpedo, a compact, stealthy anti-submarine weapon designed for unmanned aircraft. This innovative torpedo, weighing under 268 pounds and fitting standard bomb racks, aims to revolutionize undersea warfare by enabling a wide array of drones and aircraft, like the MQ-9 Reaper, to conduct anti-submarine operations. This initiative, driven by concerns over growing Chinese naval power, could significantly shift anti-ship warfare to the aerial domain, potentially reducing reliance on specialized ASW aircraft and alleviating shipbuilding pressures. The SAA-LT's low detection profile promises to enhance stealth capabilities, fundamentally altering how submarines are tracked and targeted.