Ukrainian drones can hide underwater and attack from depth - Forbes (video)

This is hardly unique or innovative development, but like many drones, such a thing can be more dangerous than it seems at first glance, forbes. Similar systems have appeared since the 1920s. Most of them have never gone beyond the drawing boards, and examples in scientific fiction are more than in real life. Several, for example, the Reid RF-1 of the 1960s, were built and used.

The concepts continued to be repeated, including ideas such as U-Plan underwater fighter from SAAB, which could be hidden in fjords. But, unfortunately, no equipment was created. Submarines are more practical, the publication notes. Multicopters can "fly" in water, as in the air, and without the need in a sealed capsule for the pilot. Theoretically, at least a quadcopter can fly to a given place, dive underwater and work in a submarine mode.

Of course, the water is much denser than the air, and the swimming speed is low, so the batteries are quickly discharged. Several underwater multi-digiters appeared in the 2010s, including the Naviator from Professor Havieri Wea from Ratger University. In 2015, the Wea team received a grant from the management of naval research (ONR) to continue the project to develop a drone to fight mines, but it seems that this project did not advance.

The video from China demonstrates a similar concept, although the characteristics do not inspire optimism: this model has a good look, but the flight time is only 6. 5 minutes. Chinese spry is popularized as a waterproof floating drone, but can plunge under water and stay there. The US Navy has made more progress with a fixed wing drone, including Flimmer and Flying Sea Glider in 2017. Again, productivity seems to be not impressive. This technology is similar to drones with fiber optic cable.

Shrike is a well-proven FPV-Model, named after a Sorokoput or a meatball bird known to leave its prey with thorns to eat it later. It was one of the first drones that made a jump from production volunteers to the state contract. Multicopters cannot be called good submarines, but it may not be important. It is important that the drone can land in the water and remain hidden for a certain period of time, is indicated in the publication.