June 16,
2008: Germany has successfully tested
launching anti-aircraft missile from a submerged submarine (U-33, a Type 212
equipped with Air Independent Propulsion). The IDAS (Interactive Defense and
Attack system for Submarines) missile is 7.6 feet long, 180mm in diameter and
weighs 260 pounds. It has a 29 pound warhead and a range of at least 15 kilometers.
The main targets will be ASW (Anti-Submarine) helicopters and low flying ASW
aircraft. Two IDAS missiles fit into a metal frame that in turn fits into a
torpedo tube. The IDAS missiles take about a minute to reach the surface,
ignite its rocket motor, spot any target within range and go after it. If the
IDAS misses, an air bubble from the torpedo tube launch of the missile, will
reach the surface, indicating where the sub is. At that point, the helicopter
or aircraft can drop a torpedo. The sub has countermeasures for these
torpedoes, but these devices are not guaranteed to work every time, or against
every type of torpedo (some are better at detecting, and getting around,
countermeasures.)
The sub
commander would use IDAS if he calculated that a helicopter was likely to spot
him with active sonar sonobouys or
dipping sonar. IDAS can also be aimed at a surface ship (as in the bridge or a
helicopter sitting on the platform at the rear of the ship. This is done using
the fiber optic link, which can use used to designate a target. Otherwise, the
missile uses its heat seeking sensor.
It will be
two or three years before IDAS is available for use, but it's uncertain if any
navy will buy them. The concept of anti-aircraft missiles for subs is several
decades old, and never actually used. But it's possible, so new models keep
showing up.
