Inflator-Based Submerged Missile Ejection System (ISMES)

Since the advent of impulse launching various payloads from Navy and other military combatants, the source of the impulse energy has been either an explosive gas generator (propellant) or stored high pressure gas in a flask. Both of these methods have high maintenance and/or clean-up costs and are typically limited to one type or size of payload per launcher device. This limits operational flexibility and increases logistical complexity and cost. SEA CORP has developed a family of impulse launchers that use COTS automotive air bag inflators that significantly expands the capability and flexibility of any single launcher design to employ a number of payloads. The inflators, widely used in the automotive industry, are small cylinders containing a highly compressed inert gas that is released when a small initiator is electrically actuated. By changing the number, size, and initiation timing of the inflators, the launcher can be adjusted to accommodate various payloads that have different impulse requirements. The technology was originally developed under a NAVSEA SBIR to launch light weight torpedoes up to 740lbs from surface ships. In the proposed application, SEA CORP will adapt the technology to provide the impulse energy to eject missiles from submerged submarines.