Buoyant wire antenna with inboard deployment system

Submarine - Controls

Other systems, than the towed VLF antenna which is a large installation particularly adapted to ballistic nuclear submarines, allow communication whilst submerge. They consist on a very similar technique which is to deploy a positively buoyant cable. Communication is then achieved by the immerged part of the cable on surface.

This system is composed of the cable antenna, its deployment winch and cable handling as well as the control command of the complete system.
To perform these functions, the system is an assembly of equipments which are:
- The hull penetration watertight hoses: its role is to let the cable come in and out of the submarine pressure hull. This system comprises safety devices not to let the seawater leak inside the submarine.
- The cable push pull system: push / pull the cable out of the pressure hull using two parallel belts.
- The motorized winch and cable to guide to manage cable reeling & unreeling.
- The Control cabinet for the operator to operate the complete system.

The system is installed inside the pressure hull hence is in air at atmospheric pressure.