Germany orders development of missile for submarines
The German company Diehl Defence has signed a contract to complete the development of the IDAS anti-aircraft system for submarines, which will allow to shoot down anti-submarine aircraft while remaining in the underwater position.
Here's What We Know
The IDAS project was initiated in the 2000s by German companies Diehl Defence, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft and Norwegian company Kongsberg. In 2006, the first prototype successfully passed ground tests, but development took longer than expected.
The Bundeswehr Federal Office has allocated €67 million to complete the project, which is due to be qualified by the end of 2029. The system will be a technological breakthrough, providing submarines with the ability to destroy air threats without revealing their position.
The system is based on a modified IRIS-T missile with an infrared homing head. The missile is launched through a standard 533 mm diameter torpedo launcher from an anti-aircraft container that holds four missiles. The missile is guided by a fibre-optic cable during the flight path, and then engages the target on its own in the final stage.
The anti-aircraft missile is capable of reaching a speed of 200 m/s after leaving the water and can engage both air and ground targets. The first successful underwater test took place in 2008 from a 212A submarine. In 2013, Turkish company Roketsan, which is working on the warhead, and Norwegian company Nammo, which is developing the rocket engine, joined the development.
Source: Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
