June 8, 2017

June 2017 Donors' Report – Kockums’ Submarine Vertical Launch Plug

Model of the Vertical Launch Plug - door open revealing 6 of the long range cruise missiles.
(Photo courtesy Mike Yeo and Staff, DefenseNews)
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Hi Donors

I've just emailed Submarine Matters June 2017 Donor Report: Kockums’ Submarine Vertical Launch Plug out to you, as a WORD attachment. Please check your spam bin if you don't see it in your IN box.

Leadin to report:

"It was interesting to see photos...of SAAB Kockums’ display of a 3 x vertical multi-purpose lock (VMPL) plug at IMDEX Asia 2017. The plug, perhaps 10m long and weighing 500 tonnes, may be an option on a future A26 derivative. Each lock can carry 6 Tomahawk missiles for a total of 18 Tomahawks (or perhaps other land attack missiles). 

In 2015 Sweden entertained the idea of mounting a large horizontal multi-purpose lock in the torpedo room of future A26s. But this may have created little customer interest as such a lock may have been at the expense of 3 or 4 conventional torpedo tubes..."

Regards

Pete
Director
Submarine Matters International 

6 comments:

  1. JakobS6/09/2017 9:30 AM

    A plug like this should also be helpful with extending the endurance of the submarine. A 10m plug without tomahawks that have more fuel instead would make it possible to create an A26 the size of a Walrus-submarine without to much reengineering.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pete6/09/2017 8:00 PM

    Hi Koppen89

    Yes a 10m plug for missiles might also permit space around the sides of the plug for (say) 2,000nm more diesel fuel.

    An enlarged, more capable A26 might indeed create interest in the Netherlands (Walrus replacement) and then Saudi Arabia, India then Canada. All 4 countries would have mid-long term future submarine programs which will be hotly contested submarine producers.

    Regards

    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6/10/2017 12:10 AM

    Canada wants to sail its subs until 2040. That's too late for Saab.
    http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/liberal-sajjan-garneau-defence-policy-1.4149473

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous6/13/2017 10:46 PM

    Hi Pete

    These vertical launching systems seem to need massive electricity. Also, personnels for fire fighting are needed.

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6/14/2017 9:35 AM


    Hi Pete

    Cost of A26 (4.10 B SEK=0.63 B AUS) is nearly same as Japanese counterpart, Soryu-class MKI which is twice bigger than A26 [1] and adopts strongest hull steel.

    [1] https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/A26_(ub%C3%A5t)
    (General chalacteristics: length 62m, draught 6.75m, displacement 1900 ton, test depth >200m, Stiring system)

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6/16/2017 1:03 AM

    A viable alternative to this that is the expandable Kratos stealth UAV which has a combat radius of 1500 miles with a 500lb payload. Its price quote is $2M for volume greater than 100 units. It does not even need a runway to be launched or retrieved. A swarm of these will likely overwhelm any S-400 defense.
    KQN

    ReplyDelete

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