SpearUAV, an Israel-based defense manufacturer, has launched a quadcopter that can help keep tabs on what's going on above the water line when a submarine is submerged underwater.
The Ninox product line has a range of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and they also have wearable and autonomous loitering munition. Now, they have created a drone that could be the solution for missions.
The Ninox 103 UW
The Ninox 103 UW sub-to-air drone will provide a safer way for subs to peek out of the water. It is similar to missiles, but this one is built specifically for submarines.
It works by going to the water's surface while contained in a capsule that can float quietly for up to 24 hours. This will then give the submarine time to distance itself should the capsule be discovered.
The drone, on the other hand, has low acoustic, thermal, and visual signatures, which means it will be hard to detect. It also used an open-architecture artificial intelligence system that will allow for an automatic recognition of its target.
After a pre-set amount of time, the capsule will launch the quadcopter into the air. With its four propeller-driven arms, it will go on its pre-planned flight with a range of up to 10 kilometers and flight times of around 45 minutes.
It can carry payloads of up to two pounds and can withstand wind speeds of 20 knots. Moreover, the drone can be launched from land or sea platforms.
However, the company hasn't provided information on the range of the drone's wireless communications. Still, the encrypted data may be accessed by the submarine from a safe distance. Its cross-domain connective ensures crucial reconnaissance information will be communicated quickly to mission control. Also, the drone can see miles from its elevated vantage point.
Also Read: Submarine Wedding? U-Boat Worx's Upcoming Sub Can Also Host Underwater Parties
A Solution
Nuclear-powered subs can now stay submerged for long period and completely be in stealth mode. The downside to this is that it limits its ability to communicate with the rest of the world, specifically the navy team. It will also have trouble accessing military tools, such as the GPS and satellite imagery.
Wireless communications don't work well through salt water; and even if it does, it comes with a limited range. Should the captain of the submarine needs to communicate above the water line, they will need to surface the ship to deploy tools. However, this will put them at risk because it will reveal their position.
Thankfully, it looks like the Ninox 103 UW will solve that problem. SpearUAV has tested the drone and the company is now working with other defense companies to incorporate this latest development.
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Written by April Fowell
