no joke. lockheed did submit a proposal for the US Navy UCAV
contest, to launch and recover the UCAV from nuclear submarines.
how to launch and recover was classified.
Navy UCAV Concepts Continue To Define Missions and
Capabilities
Source: Lockheed Martin
http://www.lmtas.com/news/press/ucav/ucavpr-5.html
October 2, 1998
FORT WORTH, TX - The following descriptions describe two potential
scenarios (pictured) for the Lockheed Martin concepts for U.S. Navy
Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles.
Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems has recently completed a
study for the United States Navy with the objective to create
conceptual aircraft designs for three different types of naval
UCAVs. Two were to operate from surface combatant vessels, such as
amphibious assault ships and destroyers, while the third was to be
launched from submarines. Lockheed Martin further developed the
sub-launched UCAV design concept to include a unique recovery and
relaunch system concept. Such a system would enable the submarine
to have a sustained firepower capability. The contracted study also
addressed the key technologies that would be required, in addition
to the launch and recovery feasibilities.
Two stealthy, sub-launched UCAVs return from a strike mission. They
are approaching their splashdown rendezvous point with a converted
Trident submarine. The sub would have the capability to recover the
UCAVs while remaining underwater. The UCAVs could then be re-armed
and refueled inside the submarine, and made ready for launch on
another mission. The UCAVs are launched from the [modified]
ballistic missile launch tubes with rocket boosters, much like a
Tomahawk cruise missile. A Trident submarine has 24 launch tubes
available. At least four Tridents are to be retired from service in
accordance with the START2 nuclear weapons treaty.
A pair of low-observable, sub-launched UCAVs release GPS-aided
Small Smart Bombs on target coordinates that have been transmitted
from Forward Air Controllers on the ground via "Sure Strike." The
Sure Strike system was developed and patented by Lockheed Martin,
and is operational with U.S. Air Force units deployed to support
operations in Bosnia. Currently this streamlined CAS targeting and
digital communication system is interoperable with F-16 units based
at Aviano, Italy.
Extending Sure Strike to be interoperable with other manned and
future unmanned combat aircraft could be readily accomplished. The
combination of this type of system with GPS-aided weaponry would
allow many different types of combat aircraft to effectively attack
targets from higher altitudes and in all-weather conditions. This
capability would be ideal in a Close Air Support or Special
Operations mission environment, and could significantly help to
reduce potential UCAV costs by not requiring the aircraft to carry
sensors for these types of mission.
The sub-launched UCAVs shown are concepts that were developed under
a recently completed study contract for the United States Navy,
that was funded through NAVAIR. The study was for the development
of three different naval UCAV concepts: a deck-launched STOVL
concept, a vertical attitude VATOL concept, and a
submarine-launched UCAV concept. Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft
Systems further-developed the third UCAV type to include an
innovative recovery and relaunch system concept for the Trident
submarine. Such a system would enable the submarine to have a
substantial conventional firepower capability for sustained
operations.
As the home of The Fighter Enterprise for Lockheed Martin, Lockheed
Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems is the lead for the corporation's
UCAV programs. Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems currently
builds the F-16, the world's most sought-after combat aircraft with
more than 3,800 delivered to date to air forces in 19 countries.
Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems also produces one-third
of the F-22 and is the lead company in Lockheed Martin's Joint
Strike Fighter (JSF) development program. The company also
participates in production of Japan's F-2 fighter and is working
with Korean industry on the KTX-2 supersonic trainer project.
Contact: Kathryn Hayden
(817) 763-4084
e-mail: [email protected]
