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[RL]Neat Navy drone, Because they get all the fun toys

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nezumi

Feb 24 2006, 04:47 PM

Post #1

Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet;

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http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace...ecbccdrcrd.html

QUOTE

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, famed for the U-2 and Blackbird spy planes that flew higher than anything else in the world in their day, is trying for a different altitude record: an airplane that starts and ends its mission 150 feet underwater. The Cormorant, a stealthy, jet-powered, autonomous aircraft that could be outfitted with either short-range weapons or surveillance equipment, is designed to launch out of the Trident missile tubes in some of the U.S. Navy’s gigantic Cold War–era Ohio-class submarines. These formerly nuke-toting subs have become less useful in a military climate evolved to favor surgical strikes over nuclear stalemates, but the Cormorant could use their now-vacant tubes to provide another unmanned option for spying on or destroying targets near the coast.

This is no easy task. The tubes are as long as a semi trailer but about seven feet wide—not exactly airplane-shaped. The Cormorant has to be strong enough to withstand the pressure 150 feet underwater—enough to cave in hatches on a normal aircraft—but light enough to fly. Another challenge: Subs survive by stealth, and an airplane flying back to the boat could give its position away.

The Skunk Works’s answer is a four-ton airplane with gull wings that hinge around its body to fit inside the missile tube. The craft is made of titanium to resist corrosion, and any empty spaces are filled with plastic foam to resist crushing. The rest of the body is pressurized with inert gas. Inflatable seals keep the weapon-bay doors, engine inlet and exhaust covers watertight.

The Cormorant does not shoot out of its tube like a missile. Instead an arm-like docking “saddle” guides the craft out, sending it floating to the surface while the sub slips away. As the drone pops out of the water, the rocket boosters fire and the Cormorant takes off. After completing its mission, the plane flies to the rendezvous coordinates it receives from the sub and lands in the sea. The sub then launches a robotic underwater vehicle to fetch the floating drone.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) is funding tests of some of the Cormorant’s unique systems, including a splashdown model and an underwater-recovery vehicle. The tests should be completed by September, after which Darpa will decide whether it will fund a flying prototype.

I like that the pictures look like they're from a video game.

Posts in this topic

nezumi [RL]Neat Navy drone Feb 24 2006, 04:47 PM

Moon-Hawk That's pretty cool. Feb 24 2006, 04:50 PM

stevebugge Here's another. This one has been in developm... Feb 24 2006, 05:40 PM

Platinum QUOTE The tests should be completed by September, ... Feb 24 2006, 06:02 PM

stevebugge QUOTE (Platinum) QUOTE The tests should be complet... Feb 24 2006, 06:08 PM

Kyoto Kid QUOTE (stevebugge)Here's another. This o... Feb 24 2006, 09:47 PM

FlakJacket Reminds me of the tailsitter drone the air force i... Feb 24 2006, 11:10 PM

Vagabond Won't be too long before they're looking f... Feb 26 2006, 12:16 AM

Kyoto Kid Actually, kind of remids me of the "Peacemake... Feb 26 2006, 02:38 AM

Kagetenshi Looks straight out of Descent 3. ~J Feb 26 2006, 06:35 AM

SL James The X-45 reminds me why I hate the drone rules som... Feb 26 2006, 11:08 AM

ShadowDragon8685 QUOTE (SL James @ Feb 26 2006, 07:08 AM) The ... Feb 27 2006, 02:29 PM

tisoz QUOTE (ShadowDragon8685) what's the point in h... Feb 27 2006, 02:42 PM

Lagomorph I played ICE RoleMaster once, but quit after I got... Feb 27 2006, 06:26 PM

Adarael QUOTE ...but no DM I've ever played with has e... Feb 27 2006, 07:28 PM

PBTHHHHT QUOTE (ShadowDragon8685) That's the same reaso... Feb 27 2006, 07:50 PM

SL James You're right. I see no problem with being able... Feb 27 2006, 07:51 PM

Kagetenshi When you're done ranting about Rigger 3, you m... Feb 27 2006, 08:40 PM

Moon-Hawk So, what would be a better formula? Feb 27 2006, 08:44 PM

Kagetenshi I'm not sure. As much as I prefer to do things... Feb 27 2006, 08:48 PM

Kagetenshi I haven't gone through all values, but Body^3 ... Feb 27 2006, 09:09 PM

ShadowDragon8685 QUOTE (Adarael @ Feb 27 2006, 03:28 PM) QUOTE... Feb 28 2006, 12:45 PM

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