Torpedo Technology in the 1980's

New technology provides the opportunity for significant advances in undersea vehicles. Advances in artificial intelligence will permit vehicles to "learn" from measuring their environment and be able to distinguish desired targets from fish, rocks, boundaries, etc. Very high speed integrated circuitry (VHSIC) will package this capability compactly. Lithium type batteries and high speed motors with new magnetic materials or high energy metallic fuels with turbines or engines combined with computer designed thrust producers in filament wound or composite shells promise high performance systems.