The invention relates to A nose cone assembly for a munition, comprising a transducer array operably linked to a transmission assembly, wherein the transducer array is operably connected to a transducer housing, said transducer housing comprising a first and second surface, wherein said transmission assembly is reversibly operably connected to the second surface of said transducer housing, said transmission assembly comprising a control board and a plurality of electronic circuit boards, wherein at least one electronic circuit board is a transceiver circuit board, said electronic circuit boards being reversibly connected to the control board and being arranged along their longest dimension, at an axis substantially perpendicular to the control board and further arranged such that the electronic circuit boards extend radially inwardly to a substantially rotational centre of the control board.

A modular underwater vehicle includes a hull having a series of modular sections, defining an interior housing, a propulsor coupled to a stern of the hull, a series of control surfaces coupled to the propulsor or the stern of the hull, and a power supply, a processor, and a nonvolatile memory device in the interior housing. The nonvolatile memory device has instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to supply power from the power supply to drive the propulsor and to actuate the plurality of control surfaces. At least one modular section of the series of modular sections is detachable.

The invention relates to A nose cone assembly for a munition, comprising a transducer array operably linked to a transmission assembly, wherein the transducer array is operably connected to a transducer housing, said transducer housing comprising a first and second surface, wherein said transmission assembly is reversibly operably connected to the second surface of said transducer housing, said transmission assembly comprising a control board and a plurality of electronic circuit boards, wherein at least one electronic circuit board is a transceiver circuit board, said electronic circuit boards being reversibly connected to the control board and being arranged along their longest dimension, at an axis substantially perpendicular to the control board and further arranged such that the electronic circuit boards extend radially inwardly to a substantially rotational centre of the control board.

Articles having a hydrophobically-coated region and processes of using such articles are disclosed. The article includes a substrate material and a hydrophobically-coated region on the substrate material, the hydrophobically-coated region being contacted or configured for contact with a fluid. The hydrophobically-coated region is configured to repulse the fluid from the article while the article is moving through the fluid. The process includes using the article by moving the article through the fluid wherein the hydrophobically-coated region repulses the fluid from the article.

The problem of penetrating through nets and other objects is solved by cutting the object using various cutter systems, which include, for example a track and a moving carriage containing a cutter, a stationary carriage with a fixed or rotating arm, and/or abrasive cutters. The object is cut by a severing, slicing, or wearing action caused by a moveable blade or abrasive surface. An underwater vehicle incorporating an embodiment of the cutter system can cut a sufficiently large opening in the object to allow the vehicle to pass through.

A method of making a tubular casing for an underwater device, wherein a metal ring made of aluminum is subjected to an anodizing process that produces an insulating layer of aluminum oxide that covers it externally. The ring is coupled with a mold that defines a cylindrical surface on which the following are deposited: first layers of carbon fiber to produce a first cylindrically-shaped tubular element in carbon fiber provided with an end portion that engages a first groove of the ring; a layer of syntactic material configured to transfer radial forces; and second layers of carbon fiber to produce a second cylindrically-shaped tubular element in carbon fiber that covers the syntactic layer and is provided with an end portion that engages a first groove of the ring.

A variable diameter conical nose is provided. The conical nose includes a cone formed from a circular sheet of ductile material having a sector removed. The formed cone has a first overlapping portion and a second overlapping portion overlying the first overlapping portion. The first overlapping portion is fixed and the second overlapping portion is free to move. The conical nose includes an actuator capable of varying the diameter of the cone by moving the second overlapping portion relative to the first overlapping portion.

An extended range support module for an undersea vehicle includes an outer hull capable of accommodating the undersea vehicle therein. A navigation module is positioned on the outer hull and capable of being joined to the undersea vehicle. Controllable fins are provided on the outer hull and joined to allow control by the navigation module. A buoyancy control system is positioned within the outer hull and joined to the navigation module. An extended fuel tank is provided inside the outer hull between the outer hull and the undersea vehicle. The extended fuel tank is joined to provide fuel to the undersea vehicle. The navigation module can have GPS, inertial sensors, and sonar sensors to aid in navigation.

The problem of penetrating through nets and other objects is solved by cutting the object using concentric cutters in which a rotatable cutter having floating teeth rotates concentrically about a stationary cutter having fixed teeth. The object is cut by a severing action caused by the floating teeth of the rotatable cutter sliding against the fixed teeth of the stationary cutter. Embodiments of the invention include a UUV system for penetrating through fishing nets and other objects, concentric cutting assemblies for use in the UUV system and other systems, and a method for penetrating through fishing nets and other objects. A UUV system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention has a concentric cutting assembly at the forward end and a propulsor at the aft end. The concentric cutting assembly integrates seamlessly within the UUV housing and is deployed from the forward end of the UUV, enabling the UUV to quickly and efficiently penetrate through objects blocking its path.

A method of making a tubular casing for an underwater device, wherein a metal ring made of aluminum is subjected to an anodizing process that produces an insulating layer of aluminum oxide that covers it externally. The ring is coupled with a mould that defines a cylindrical surface on which the following are deposited: first layers of carbon fibre to produce a first cylindrically-shaped tubular element in carbon fibre provided with an end portion that engages a first groove of the ring; a layer of syntactic material configured to transfer radial forces; and second layers of carbon fibre to produce a second cylindrically-shaped tubular element in carbon fibre that covers the syntactic layer and is provided with an end portion that engages a first groove of the ring.