by Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
It’s being billed as the world’s first active defense system for submarines, a way for subs to take out helicopters whose mission is to hunt them down and destroy them.
Germany’s government has signed off on the weapon, which will be built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Diehl Defence. It is called the Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines (IDAS). IDAS has been in development for more than a decade.
The project’s mission is formally said to be “development and qualification of a guided missile unit consisting of a guided missile and ejection device for active self-defence of submarines against attacks from the air. A statement from ThyssenKrupp did not say when the weapon would become operational.
“We are delighted that this innovation project can now also be launched,” said the CEO of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Oliver Burkhard. “We are contributing to a completely new capability in the field of submarine self-defense, while at the same time strengthening the safety of people and materials in challenging future development scenarios.” IDAS is designed to be especially effective coastal areas, where waters are shallow and submarines can’t dive deep to avoid detection by enemy aircraft.
According to The Defense Post, a submarine’s sensor and sensor data management system would determine a target’s range and position while the sub is submerged. “For target engagement, the system obviates the need for the submarine to expose its mast-mounted optical electronic warfare sensors or even to surface, which risks detection,“ the publication said.
As for the missile itself, it will use solid fuel, have an infra-red seeker and most likely will have a range more than nine miles. The system’s launching container will be loaded into one of the sub’s torpedo tubes.
Once it is fired, the missile moves toward the target’s direction underwater and eventually surfaces and heads toward the target. It’s under the control of an operator in the submarine, who could change the target or abort the mission. The missile could also be used against surface targets and, with some modification, against land targets as well.
Diehl Defense is building the missiles and its fiber-optic system. ThyssenKrupp is developing the launching container and will oversee the system’s integration into submarines.
