Governments and corporations are increasingly recognizing that future conflicts will not be limited to the air but will also extend to the seabed, CNBC reported. As concerns grow over the vulnerability of critical underwater infrastructure such as communication cables and energy pipelines, nations and companies are investing heavily in the development of underwater technologies. Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has announced plans to spend approximately €600 million to acquire majority stakes in four companies to expand its underwater drone and communication capabilities. Major defense groups such as France's Thales have also established relevant businesses, while German defense technology company Euroatlas has developed the GrayShark unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), which can autonomously patrol the seabed.