DARPA Effort Seeks Submarines That Can Fly.

DARPA Effort Seeks Submarines That Can Fly.

New Scientist (7/5, Marks) reported on a plan from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), announced several years ago, that "calls for a stealthy aircraft that can fly low over the sea" and then "transform itself into a submarine that will cruise under water to within striking distance" of its target. The article considers questions about balancing "the conflicting demands" of a combined aircraft-submarine, possible means of propulsion, and design. It also notes past attempts at such a vehicle, which began in the Soviet Union in 1934. Norman Polmar, a "former adviser on naval strategy and technology to the US government," said "the starting point must be to find a way to make an aircraft that can sink in water." Some experts say the project will be lucky to achieve even partial success, while "others are more optimistic, especially in the light of advances in engineering and materials science."