On Sep 18, 2:07*am, wrote:
"Once more, developers are working on weapons that
enable submerged submarines to attack aircraft overhead.
There was recent successful test of the U.S. Tomahawk
Capsule Launching System (TCLS) releasing a AIM-9X
Sidewinder air-to-air heat seeking missile. This is all part
of an effort that began during the Cold War, particularly for
non-nuclear subs. While most of this work halted when the
Cold War ended in 1991, it has since been resumed.

Last year, for example, Germany 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 used 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 are ASW
(Anti-Submarine) helicopters and low flying ASW aircraft."

See:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/hts.../20090917.aspx

I always thought sub-launched SAM's were a bad idea, since they
give away the position of the launching sub. *But the idea refuses
to die.

Why?

The German system, IDAS is inusual from several angles:
1 It is not based on a AAM and is launched directly from a standard
tube with motor ignition occuring immediatly. This makes the missile
much faster in getting to target than capsule launched SAM based on
say sidewinder-X, AMRAAM or MICA. It also makes it much noisier ie it
has a much larger launch signature due to the motor igniting under
water. (This suggests it is a last minute weapon to be used when
alreaqdy discovered). Having said that is a capsule launched that
much quieter?
2 The German IDAS system uses a high resolution infrared imaging
system, inertial guidance and remains connected to the submarine with
fiber optic cables: it provides a TV picture to the opperator, motor
gives adaquet time for lotire and target selection. It has auto-
homming to both air, land and sea targets but the opperator retains
control.

Submarine detection has improved dramatically in recent years to the
point that some are saying the've lost most if not all their stealth
in open ocean. Littoral subs like the German type 212 designed for
shallow waters with the x-fin configuration and to avoid MAD with a
stainless steel hull and a Hydrogen Metal Hydride fuel cell however
retail stealth due to their abillity to opperate in the shallows.

If say a 212 can hear the rotors of a helicopter, if it can then hear
tracking pings from its sonar (time to launch may be then) and if it
then hears the 'plonk' of a ASW torpedo, its motor and its seeker
going active the response of the sub would be to release effectors,
decoys and jammers. Now it can destroy the sub and ward of subsequent
attacks as well.

One reason these systems may be making a rear-apperance (eg Sidewinder-
X based capsule launched) is that is simply easily possible to adapt
these missiles with little R+D. These AAM have inertial guidance,
focal plane array 'robot vision infrared' and thrust vectoring
suitable for vertical launch.