Submarine Questions of the Week for 7-5-2010

Background

05 Jul 2010 - Telegraph UK - Pentagon plans 'flying submarine' Pentagon researchers are attempting to develop a military vehicle which can travel underwater like a submarine before bursting out of the waves and flying like an aeroplane.

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BAA09-06
Posted Date: October 03, 2008
Response Date: December 12, 2008
Archive Date: October 04, 2009

Description
DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals on the topic of a Submersible Aircraft. In particular, DARPA is interested in a feasibility study and experiments to prove out the possibility of making an aircraft that can maneuver underwater. The proposal needs to outline a conceptual design along with identifying the major technological limitations that need to be overcome in order to maneuver an aircraft underwater. In addition to the conceptual design studies, performers need to outline experiments or computational models that will be used to demonstrate that the major technological limitations can be overcome.

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In development since 2008, DARPA's submarine aircraft has reached design proposal stage, and several outside developers have submitted designs. DARPA could start allocating funding to developers in as little as a year.

QUESTION of the WEEK

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1) Identify the concept illustrated by the drawing above: what was its abbreviated name?

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2) What was the approximate year of the concept and describe its weapons?

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3) What country attempted to develope it and did it ever become viable for service?

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4) Two major obstacles needed to be overcome before a submersible aircraft like the one illustrated could become viable; what were they?

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5) DARPA's concept will be unmanned, like this, (a fact journalists omit); have the 2 major design obstacles (see question 4) been overcome?

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ANSWERS: 5) - pending until further notice; 1)-4) - SXAXTXUXRXDXAXY MONDAY

Submarines are always silent and strange.