Tue, Oct 28, 2008
Simulated Launches Go Swimmingly
Aero-News has learned Raytheon and
the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, demonstrated
an unmanned aircraft system capability for submerged submarines
September 10.
The program, called Submarine Over the Horizon Organic
Capabilities, simulated the submarine launch of a specialized UAS
for collection of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
information in a complex littoral environment.
"SOTHOC provides submerged submarines with the ability to use
unmanned aircraft systems and will increase commanders' situational
awareness and provide clarity to a fogged battlespace picture,"
said Ken Pedersen, Raytheon Missile Systems' vice president of
Advanced Programs. "In future demonstrations, we will deploy a UAS
from an actual submerged submarine and evaluate its performance in
the maritime interdiction mission."
During the demonstration, two submerged launch vehicles were
deployed over the side of a surface ship. The vehicles descended to
80 feet, reverted to positive buoyancy, floated to the surface,
stabilized in variable sea states, aligned into the wind, and then
launched an inert representative UAS at precise orientation and
velocity.
"The SOTHOC program is a government-industry partnership that
complements organizational strengths to develop, integrate and test
a capability that will provide a significant increase in warfighter
performance," said Mark A. Rodrigues, department head, Naval
Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, Platform Payload
Integration Department. "This capability will be a keystone for
real-time situational awareness at significantly increased
ranges."
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