Oct 29, 2019, 10:24am
First Navy Submarine Resupplied By Commercial Drone
It was only a matter of time before somebody thought of this. On Oct. 10 a small quad-rotor delivery drone, of the type used for delivering packages to your door, resupplied a U.S. Navy submarine.
Virginia Class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) with delivery drone
The honor fell to the suitably named USS Hawaii (SSN 776), one of the latest Virginia Class fast attack submarines. It took place just a mile off Oahu, Hawaii, in partnership with the University of Hawaii Applied Research Lab. This may not sound very impressive, but it is a look into the future.
Submarines crave the protection of the deep, hiding out of sight. For modern nuclear powered submarines there are very few good reasons to surface at all during a patrol. To come to the surface risks detection by enemy radars, negating their fundamental advantage: stealth. It's not uncommon for nuclear submarines to spend several months without breaking cover. Yet there are occasions when submarines need to recover supplies. They may need medical supplies, replacement parts, provisions or even snail mail. In this thought-provoking exercise the U.S. Navy has demonstrated a new way to do this. For the test the 5 pound payload consisted of circuit cards, medical supplies, and food.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2019/10/29/navy-submarine-resupplied-by-commercial-drone/#e0f6d20ee08f
