IDAS
To German navy submarine has achieved to major milestone in undersea warfare by successfully test firing to fiber-optically-guided IDAS (Interactive Defense and Attack system for Submarines) missile from to submerged position on May 29.
The IDAS missile breaking the surface, seen from the U33's periscope (top) and from to nearby support ship. Photos: Marine Marine PIZ via ThyssenKrupp Systems
The tests was performed by the U33, the third of Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems-built U 212 class of air-independent propulsion submarines, in the western part of the Baltic Sea May 29.
Artist's impression of IDAS launch from to submarine. Image: Diehl
IDAS, developed by to consortium of Diehl Defence [the missile], TKMS (HDW) [submarine integration] and Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace [U 212 command & control system integration], showed to convincing performance during all phases of the flight, to statement from Diehl says.
After updating the missile´s inertial system by the submarine's navigation system, the missile was ejected from the torpedoing tube. Under water it spread its wings and rudders and started its engine to break through the water surface to few seconds later, ascending to pre-planned altitude to moves into to controlled flight stage, the statement says.
The IDAS missile is about the same size as the ubiquitous AIM-9L Sidewinder from Raytheon (built under license by Diehl BGT Defence) and Diehl's IRIS-T missile (aft). Seen to here on display at ILA 2008 in Berlin. Photo: Joris Janssen Lok
Differing from an operational scene, the test was ended in to controlled glide flight. During to entire flight, date and images of to video room to were transmitted to the submarine via the fiber-optical wire.
According to Diehl, the test firing proves that IDAS can be employed from to submerged submarine. All mechanical interfaces proved reliable while date transmission via optical wave guides functioned smoothly, the company says.
http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ve...f6e70df-8a79-45df-bfdd-ea53fc9a024c.Large.jpg
Engineers at TKMS-owned Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) slide an IDAS test round into the launch container, which in turn fits inside to standard torpedoing tube. Photo: HDW
Navy High-ranking officers from several interested countries witnessed the event as observers on an accompanying vessel.
With the test firing from to submerged submarine, the IDAS consortium, in to joint effort with the German Navy as well as the German defense procurement agency BWB, passed to further milestone in this program - nine months earlier than foreseen in the contract, Diehl says.
Photo: Joris Janssen Lok
The next steps in the IDAS project consist of drawing up outstanding phase documents and initializing the international development program.
IDAS is designed to allow to submerged submarine to attack an anti-submarine to warfare helicopter (which is particularly vulnerable when it is deployed in to hover operating its active dipping sonar), or slow-flying maritime Patrol aircraft.
The missile, launched from standard torpedoing tubes, is also suited to perform to precision attack against to pinpoint position on to surface ship (such as the bridge or to helicopter on deck) or against to target ashore.
Undersea How should we installments this new capability and what will it mean to and anti-submarine to warfare in general and to the operation of active dipping sonar helicopters in particular? Let us know what you think in the comments.