Get email updates with the day's biggest stories China has built a shark drone to help it spy on and hunt down enemy ships and submarines. The stealthy sea robot can move at speeds of six knots and will help conduct reconnaissance as well as search and destroy missions for the country's military. Developed independently by Beijing-based Boya Gongdao Robot Technology, the unmanned device was unveiled at the 7th China Military Intelligent Technology Expo on Monday. And it has already been deployed for use by the forces. Most such drones can be fired out of a sub's torpedo tube, but it is unclear how the Robo-Shark will be launched. It's other functions include search and rescue, battlefield surveillance, hydrological survey, communications relay and underwater tracking missions, the Global Times reports.

The soldier who is a split second quicker on the draw may walk away from a firefight unscathed; the ship that sinks an enemy vessel first may spare itself a volley of missiles. In cases where humans can't keep up with the pace of modern conflict, machines step in. When a rocket-propelled grenade is streaking toward an armored ground vehicle, an automated system onboard the vehicle identifies the threat, tracks it, and fires a countermeasure to intercept it, all before the crew inside is even aware. Similarly, US Navy ships equipped with the Aegis combat system can switch on Auto-Special mode, which automatically swats down incoming warheads according to carefully programmed rules. These kinds of defensive systems have been around for decades, and at least 30 countries now use them.

The Royal Navy is testing ground-breaking technology which allows them to control unmanned boats remotely. The fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), described as'absolutely the future of naval warfare', can be operated from a warship's operations room. Able to detect underwater mines and spy on enemy ships without putting sailors in danger, the MAST-13 has already been hailed by one admiral for the'increased reach and lethality this will bring to our ships'. The MAST-13 technology will allow the 13-metre boats to scout miles ahead of warships and warn them of potential danger. Capable of travelling 45 knots (52mph; 84kmh), the waterborne drones can operate for up to 10 days at a time and travel hundreds of miles.