The famous design bureau Skunk Works is developing the Cormorant drone capable of launching from submarines, from a submerged position - directly from missile silos.
Today, among the developments that this division of Lockheed Martin implements, the Cormorant apparatus is of considerable interest, which in Russian means simply "cormorant".
Cormorant is being implemented using stealth technology and will be equipped with various melee weapons or reconnaissance equipment. However, the main difficulty is still the launch from the missile silo. Their width (slightly more than 2 m) is completely unsuitable for a similar aircraft of traditional design. In addition, the apparatus must be strong enough to withstand pressure under 50 meters of water.
The solution, which they intend to implement in Skunk Works, is to create a quite decent size (weight 4 tons) of the apparatus, the wings of which fold for launch and (not completely) unfold in flight. Most likely, the fuselage will be made of titanium, which can withstand high pressure and corrosion, and the voids in it will be filled with plastic foam for added strength. Some parts, when driven underwater, will be "pumped" with pressure using compressed inert gas, and engine nozzles and other components will be closed by sliding sealed covers.
From the mine, the Cormorant will not "shoot" like a rocket, but rather just float. As soon as the drone is on the surface, its jet engines are turned on - and it floats directly from the water. Having completed his task, he will independently return to the point of meeting with the submarine, and will descend back to the sea surface, throwing out the cable. The submarine will then release a small floating robot, which will grab the rope and carry it on board. For this cable, the submarine will again pull the plane back. Mission accomplished.
