Ocean life inspires new Royal Navy submarine concepts

Designs include a crewed mothership shaped like a manta ray, as well as unmanned eel-like structures equipped with sensors, and flying fish-shaped torpedoes designed to swarm enemy targets. The concepts were created by UK scientists and engineers aged between 16 and 34 as part of the Nautilus 100 competition, celebrating the the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus.

"It's predicted that in 50 years' time there will be more competition between nations to live and work at sea or under it,” said Commander Peter Pipkin, the Royal Navy's Fleet Robotics Officer. “So it's with this in mind that the Royal Navy is looking at its future role, and how it will be best equipped to protect Britain's interests around the globe.”

“We have always sought to think differently and come up with ideas that challenge traditional thinking. If only 10 per cent of these ideas become reality, it will put us at the cutting edge of future warfare and defence operations."