Lockheed Martin MPUAV Cormorant

Nuclear-armed submarines, once a cornerstone of the Cold war deterrent, may soon find a new 21st century mission. Lockheed Martin is developing an unmanned aircraft that can be released from the ballistic missile tube of a Trident Submarine -- 150 feet underwater. Floating to the surface, its wings unfold, booster rockets fire, and it is airborne.

Called the Cormorant, this jet-powered autonomous aircraft could act as a spy plane or deliver firepower in a surgical strike. When the mission is over, the Cormorant receives computer signals from the submarine that can direct it to a rendezvous point.

Landing back in the sea, a tether is connected to the Cormorant by a robotic underwater vehicle and the aircraft can be reeled in to the submarine that is loitering just below the surface.

Made of titanium and other advanced materials, the Cormorant weighs about four tons. To compensate for underwater pressures that are three times greater than the maximum pressure that a typical aircraft can withstand, the inside of the Cormorant will be pressurized with inert gas or air. Smart, stealthy, and fast, the Cormorant's gull-like wings can fold and unfold around the body of the aircraft.

All Credit goes to Lockheed Martin
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/how/stories/cormorant.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lockheed
• Martin
• MPUAV
• Cormorant

[arczangelz]

i was so amazed by this subject, so i decided to share it.

[wullebulle123]

We need an alternitive for the expensive cruise missile. The Cormorant is a step in this direction, being launched and landed without a gear saves payload for weapons. Underwater launching/recovery is tricky, maybe they should also create a version that operates on surface from ships.

[CreazioniPinnacolo]

battery powered proppeller on the plan, and a sub docking bay, with water evacuation would be simpler.

[ALLAN00GT]

Needs to be named after something cooler than a water turkey.