How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

DID YOU KNOW? In 2014, P-8 spy planes were used to search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370

Stealth subs

For every advance in spy plane detection,

there’s an advance in submarine evasion

© WIKI; A lamy / Illustrations by Ad rian Mann

Satellite antennae

Perched atop the tailfi n sits

an array of military

communications antennae.

Sonobuoy

launch tubes

Over 100 sonobuoys can be launched

per fl ight, to detect submarine activity

and send acoustic data to the plane.

Arsenal

A variety of weapons can be fi tted,

including torpedoes, depth charges

and anti-ship missiles.

Magnetic anomaly

detector (MAD)

On some models, this submarine-

detection apparatus is mounted on

an extension at the back of the

aircraft to minimise interference.

You could easily think that, for a giant metal tube in a

featureless ocean, there’s nowhere to hide. But once

again, tech is lending a hand. Where some aircraft

use magnetic anomaly detectors to seek out

magnetic signatures, submarines will employ

‘degaussing’ techniques to evade detection. This

involves using electromagnets to create another

magnetic fi eld that matches the background fi eld,

rendering the signature undetectable.

Another stealth method is to defl ect sonar.

Coating materials modify the sound waves hitting a

submarine so that they don’t bounce back. Such

materials in development include a substance that

‘wicks’ sound waves off a sub like water off a duck’s

back, as well as a material that looks like miniature

bubble wrap, which soaks up and disperses sound.

As sound is a big part of sub detection, one of the

key ways to avoid being found is to reduce the din.

All of the machinery in a submarine will be placed

upon acoustic and vibration deadening buffers to

minimise the overall noise of the vessel.

“With its

strengthened

fuselage, the

Poseidon also

boasts missiles,

mines and

torpedoes in

its arsenal”

Sonobuoys listen for sounds in

the water and relay information

to the aircraft

Torpedos propel themselves

towards underwater targets

before detonating

Detection

The MAD uses a

magnetometer to sense

Earth’s magnetic fi eld.

Distortion

Large metal structures like

submarines cause distortions

in the magnetic fi eld.

Location

The MAD senses

distortions, revealing the

submarine’s location. 115