The submarine-launched helicopter is one of naval technology's most interesting developments. These small, unmanned aircraft can also be launched from submarines. They can be used to spy on ships and launch torpedoes.
These missiles are also much more evasive that submerged ones, which makes them difficult for an opponent's detection and tracking. They can also fly above areas of interest without a human pilot having to touch the ground.
The US Navy has been developing and testing unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which can be launched from underwater. These unmanned aircraft systems, also known as submarine-launched and unmanned air system (SLUAS), are low-cost solutions to avoid detection by A2/AD warfare.
According to a recent report by Seapower magazine, the US Navy is already experimenting with the Blackwing 10C UAS from AeroVironment. This is a small, lightweight UAS that has an inertial/GPS autopilot system and a secure digital data link to maintain communications with the submarine it is launched from.
Side-scan Sonars give the launching submarine greater information about the targets the drones are spying on. Other weapons could include electronic warfare jammers or torpedoes based on the mission.
Spear and Ninox are two of the companies that have drones that can launch from submarines. Spear recently released a video in which its Ninox 103 UW was deployed from an underwater platform. It is unclear from what type of launchers it could be launched from.
Ninox 103's range is 10 kilometers. It can also last 40 minutes. It can be used anywhere and can be used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, target identification, and more.
The video shows the drone hovering above the water. It then comes to rest in an area where it can spy on enemy. It is very similar to China's Manta UAV, which was tested earlier in the month.
While this is an interesting idea for drones that can be launched from submarines, the Navy may have a better chance at implementing a more effective solution by using a swarm of underwater drones. As War Zone has pointed out, drones in swarms can identify and search for targets and objects over large areas.
It would also allow the drones act as a relay for daisy chains, expanding line-of sight connectivity and making coordination easier.
According to Xinhua a Chinese drone shaped as a manta ray has been successfully tested in the South China Sea. The design was developed at a university near the Chinese military.