Next Gen Narco Sub

A new chapter in Maritime Open Source Warfare: narco-traffickers have evolved from building semi-submersible to fully submersible home-made subs. The reduction in signature between these subs (only a periscope/diesel snorkel sticking out of the water) and the SPSS will be significant. It's unclear from the article whether the 100 foot diesel-electric submarine can actually run with the periscope submerged on batteries only, but one can assume she wouldn't need batteries if that wasn't the designer's intention.

Built of fiberglass and other composites, it has a conning tower, periscope and
air conditioning system and measures about 9 feet (2.7 meters) high from the
deck plates to the ceiling, the DEA said. Ecuadorean police told the DEA the
vessel has the capacity for about 10 metric tons of cargo, a crew of five or
six people and the ability to fully submerge, Bergman said.

Illicit submarine technology will continue to improve until someone decides to change the risk/reward equation for these drug runners.




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