Amit Ray
The development of uncrewed underwater systems can be traced back to the 1950s, with progression from umbilical-linked, remotely controlled vehicles to the growth of autonomous, tether-free systems. The development of Indian AUVs since 2005 is recounted, and their emerging development ecosystem is assessed. Three global case studies of highly successful AUVs provide insights into development cycles, from research at universities to corporations and markets. Development of UUVs for the US Navy has been guided by regularly published roadmaps. The development of the Chinese UUV industry may have been less planned, but it appears more diverse. Typical development timelines for UUVs are compared from these case studies and discussed.