Outstanding work, gentlemen. Simply outstanding:
Raytheon plans to launch a small unmanned air vehicle from a submerged U.S. Navy submarine early next year to demonstrate its concept for extending the boat’s sensor range in littoral operations… The concept uses a submarine launch vehicle (SLV) containing the electrically powered UAV and stored on board as an all-up round. Ejected from the submerged submarine’s trash disposal unit, the SLV is weighted to descend to a safe distance from the boat, then shed the weight and inflate a float collar. The collar is pulsed to control the rate of ascent… “The SLV is a method of getting a UAS to the surface dry, then transitioning it to the air,”… In early November, Zerbe says, the company plans to conduct a second “over-the-side” demonstration from a ship off Point Mugu, Calif. This time the SLV will deploy an actual UAV, which will then conduct a full maritime interdiction mission profile.
Good news: the focus on littoral warfighting means that the US Navy may be preparing for a confrontation with Iran, which has advanced from circulating naval assets to building bases off the Straits of Hormuz. Bad news: the US Navy is also focusing on littoral capabilities in preparation for a confrontation with China.
References:
* Raytheon to Launch UAV from Submarine [Defense Tech]
* "Closing Time: Assessing the Iranian Threat to the Strait of Hormuz" [Belfer Center]
* Iran Building Up Its Conventional Arsenal Too [MR]
* World Navies Today: Chinese Littoral Warfare Vessels [Hazegray]
Previously:
* Thursday Military Tech – Gamma-Ray Annihilation Lasers. Believe.
* Thursday Military Tech – Zionist Robo-Snipers
* Thursday Military Tech – The Totally Awesome Israeli Jets Of Operation Orchard
