Boeing invents aerial drone that can transform into a submarine

[lon3wolf2002]

Reminds me of a dot to dot drawing

[theleader]

This type drone will be used in a clandestine way in other peoples territory to lay listening devices & mines etc. to monitor their submarines & shipping activities!
This type of drone in mass numbers may render a submarine deterrent obsolete!

[peterb]

This type drone will be used in a clandestine way in other peoples territory to lay listening devices & mines etc. to monitor their submarines & shipping activities!
This type of drone in mass numbers may render a submarine deterrent obsolete!

It is a submarine, just happens to be in-manned!

[crossy]

Colour me unimpressed - Irwin Allen proposed something like this way back - remember the "Flying Sub" from Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea? Although that one could actually drag it's way back into the sky again!

Joking aside, isn't this just a smarter version of the current surface-to-subsurface torpedoes that we've had for ages? Plus I really wish that patent offices moved the bar of acceptance from "vague sketch" to "if you had the money/inclination you could build it". Maybe I should patent the fusion power plant and wormhole travel?

This type drone will be used in a clandestine way in other peoples territory to lay listening devices & mines etc. to monitor their submarines & shipping activities! This type of drone in mass numbers may render a submarine deterrent obsolete!

Erm no. There's quite a few reasons why - but basically modern (non-ballistic) subs are larger and therefore capable of a lot more missions. Sure a drone swarm might be a great way to "police" an area that you want kept clear, but I see it be VERY expensive to - for example - protect a fleet at sea with (non-reusable!) drones rather than a pair of (granted more expensive) SeaWolf's, 688's, Astute or Trafalgar class attack subs.

[Brian224]

Flying submarines already exist, although it took a while for the pilot to remove the propeller and put a bag over the engine before submerging.

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contri...hard/6559L.jpg

Should have said that this isn't just earlier than Boeing's idea, it is also in one way better as the aircraft could take off again once it surfaced and the propeller refitted.

[robredz]

Have Boeing been watching the Voyage to The bottom of the Sea Boix Set? there was a flying Sub in that