way cool. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/11/the-need-for-speed-all-aboard-the-underwater-express/index.php
The Need for Speed: All Aboard the Underwater Express!
Posted 09-Nov-2006 12:08 | Permanent Link
Related stories: Americas - USA, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Awards, DARPA, Design Innovations, Engines & Propulsion - Naval, General Dynamics, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, R&D - Contracted, Science - Basic Research, Submarines
"We feeeel the need..."DARPA's Underwater Express Program has a characteristically brief description. It is intended to:
"...demonstrate stable and controllable high-speed underwater transport through supercavitation. The intent is to determine the feasibility for supercavitation technology to enable a new class of high-speed underwater craft for future littoral missions that could involve the transport of high-value cargo and/or small units of personnel. The program will investigate and resolve critical technological issues associated with the physics of supercavitation and will culminate in a credible demonstration at a significant scale to prove that a supercavitating underwater craft is controllable at speeds up to 100 knots."
James Bond is officially jealous, Q's insurance division is cringing, and a pair of American defense contractors could be $78.6 million richer if the contracts they've just received pan out. We explain "supercavitation," and detail the contracts involved...
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