[steel shark]

this in my coldwaters Epic W@ters is my first attempt for a Observation Drone for submarines


its fired from the 3 inch countermeasure tubes SSE or ICL


Submerged Single Ejector or Internal Countermeasure Launcher


and can be set for high Left or Right orbit upon reaching its way-point
when you switch to the drone you can spin the camera like normal but you can mark targets like with periscope


ill try add a zoom & night vision laters if i think im keeping this in my mod

max depth to be able to select it is periscope depth use ecm mast or Periscope to maintain contact


as im only testing it at the moment i made only a crude drone model


i basically stuck a helicopter tail rotor on the back of a Tomahawk and made it black


enemy surface ships have a chance to detect it and shoot it down


it has a max runtime of 1 hour


its not detectable on launch and has no booster trail either


so this new flying periscope can give you over the horizon detection and identification capability's

and unlike using radar it wont give away your position


information on the real thing

“Blackwing employs an advanced, miniature electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) payload, Selective Availability Anti-spoofing Module (SASSM) GPS and AeroVironment’s secure Digital Data Link (DDL), all packaged into a vehicle that launches from manned and unmanned submarines,” read the statement from the company.

AeroVironment had begun developing Blackwing in 2006 using technology inherent in the company’s backpack transportable Switchblade design, David Sharpin, AeroVironment vice president of UAS business development told USNI News on Monday.

Sharpin would not release range or speed information on the 20-inch long, four pound Blackwing but said the endurance of the platform was about an hour.

The service recently decided to move from a test program to operationalize the program and start acquiring more units for the entire submarine fleet, the Navy’s director for undersea warfare Rear Adm. Charles Richard told USNI News in March.

“So there’s 150 small unmanned aerial systems coming in on submarines, so we’re now buying them,” Richard said.
“It’s not something that you would [just] see on a PowerPoint presentation. These are fully integrated they’ll go in, talk back to the ship, talk to the combat control system.”


In a 2013 briefing on the AWESUM program, the Navy said the Blackwing could communicate with submarines antennas and provide targeting information to aircraft through Link 16 data links. The Blackwings can also be weaponized to provide additional protection to submarines operating closer to shore. The program was developed in conjunction with U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and could also provide information, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) for Special Operations Forces (SOF).


Steel Shark