Submarines

OUTRIDER, a miniature, expendable drone launched from submarines while underwater at periscope depth was unveiled today by Lockheed Martin. The drone was developed in the UK and is being evaluated by potential customers.

The US Navy has recently demonstrated the launch of an all-electric, fuel cell-powered, unmanned aerial system (UAS) from a submerged submarine. For the test, an electrically powered mini drone was launched from the submarine's torpedo tube using a 'Sea Robin' launch vehicle system. The Sea Robin is designed to fit within an empty Tomahawk Launching Canister (TLC), which is already...

The Vanguard class submarines maintain the UK strategic nuclear deterrent force.

As work on the seventh, and last Astute Class attack submarines begins, design work is already underway on the Dreadnought - the future class of submarine that will become Britains' strategic nuclear-powered missile submarine in the 2030s.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. unveiled a 4th generation torpedo decoy called Torbuster. The new decoy combines both acoustic countermeasures and hard kill, targeting enemy torpedos fired at a submarine. Rafael introduced the development of a 4th generation decoy last autumn, at the Subcon conference, but officially unveiled the product at the Pacific 2008 exhibition in Sydney, Australia. Torbuster is...

A cruise missile designed to be launched from attack submarines was unveiled today at Airshow China. The new missile, designated CM-708UNA, was developed by Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). Company sources confirmed the missile has entered production. The CM-708UNA is launched by torpedo tube and is therefore adaptable to conventional submarines (not equipped with vertical launchers). The missile employs...

On June 2017 the missile submarine Yuri Dolgoruky, successfully test-fired an RSM-56 Bulava Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from a submerged position in the Barents Sea, off the northern coast of Russia. The warhead impacted the designated target at the Kura practice range in Kamchatka, 3,600 miles away.

By the year 2025 Russia plans to increase its ocean going fleet size to a total of 300 battleships, exceeding the level it maintained during the 'cold war'. The Russian Navy plans to maintain six battlegroups, each consisting of an aircraft carrier and various combat support and auxiliary ships. Three attack groups are to be based in the Northern...

Muraena is another innovative idea for littoral and counter terror warfare is proposed by HDW for submarines. The system is a hoistable, mast-mounted automatic gun designed specifically for submarines. HDW expects to complete the system development by 2007. The unique design enables the submarine to use lethal force without having to surface, therefore maintaining the element of surprise. The...

The US Navy plans to deploy hundreds of ‘Blackwing’ drones on manned submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles; the new, low cost, submarine launched unmanned aircraft system is optimized for Anti-Access/Aerial Denial (A2/AD) environments.

Stretched along the eastern Mediterranean Sea and linked to the Indian Ocean through the Gulf of Eilat and the Red-Sea, Israel has always strived to maintain a naval force to protect its maritime border and sea lines of communications. Since the 1970s, following repeated terror attacks from the sea, the Israeli Navy assumed the responsibility to combat terror at...

A range of Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) known as The SEAL Pod was introduced today at DSEI 2013 by James Fisher Defence (JFD), a leading sub-sea rescue, operations and engineering company. The launch of The SEAL Pod is a result of JFD’s partnership with Swedish company DCE AB, a leading consultancy and manufacturer of specialist marine crafts. //...

The Spearfish heavyweight torpedo used with all classes of Royal Navy submarines is undergoing a comprehensive upgrade, improving the propulsion, homing, tactical systems and warhead. The fleet will begin receiving the improved torpedoes by 2020 and complete the upgrade in four years and prepare the weapon to challenge future threats.

Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute of Technology are developing a ‘virtual periscope’ that could enable submariners to look at objects floating of flying above the sea without using a periscope. Employing such submerged camera could deliver higher survivability and better stealth capabilities for submarines, avoiding exposure as their periscope pops above water. The new system employs an innovative image processing method...