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."

FMI: www.raytheon.com, www.nuwc.navy.mil