A futuristic science and technology programme seeking to spawn a hybrid air vehicle combining the speed and range of an aircraft, the loiter capabilities of a boat and the stealth of a submarine has been launched by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The project, characterised by the agency as a Submersible Aircraft, aims to establish the feasibility of a platform that could transition between airborne, surfaced and submerged modes in order to support insertion missions in coastal waters. In a solicitation issued on 3 October, DARPA calls for research proposals that demonstrate the feasibility of an air vehicle design that can manoeuvre underwater, identify the major technology barriers, and outline experimentation/simulation methodologies to demonstrate that these obstacles can be overcome. Initial proposals are due for submission no later than 1 December, with multiple contract awards anticipated.
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