Quiet Launch for 6-Inch Externally Stowed Devices

US Navy submarines deliver persistent presence across the world’s oceans, providing continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, a stealth deterrent to the use of force against the US and its allies, and staging platforms for special operations forces and other forward deployed teams. There is an ongoing need to modify or recapitalize some of these subsystems as the threat landscape evolves more rapidly than the design and fabrication cycle of submarines. The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility, and show the value of, the Variable Intensity Pneumatic Ejector-Rechargeable (VIPER) system. Phase I of the VIPER program will focus on developing a novel quiet-launch solution that provides a range of deployment energy, removes the energetic component from the firing and logistics chain, and provides a flexible solution for individual payloads, with a reduction in acoustic signature. The development of a non-explosive system will significantly help to streamline and minimize the storage and logistical burden of the launching system compared to the existing energetic approach. Our highly experienced team mitigates risk, enables mission options for the Navy of the future, and provides a high probability of success in productization and eventually transition.