A US Navy Submarine Just Launched A Drone .... From Underwater
Dec 6, 2013, 02:25 IST
NAVSEA-AUTECSubmerged submarine USS Providence
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has successfully launched a drone from a submerged submarine.
The picture is a real composite of a time-lapse photo taken during the launch.
The XFC unmanned aircraft is vertically launched from a 'Sea Robin' launch vehicle attached to the submerged submarine USS Providence.
The drone autonomously deploys its X-wing airfoil and assumes a horizontal flight path - which it can sustain for up to 6-hours.
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From conception this idea took less than 6 years to produce and was less expensive compared to traditional decadelong programs.
Earlier this year, the Navy successfully launched and landed an X-47B drone from the deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. George H.W. Bush.