The German government has approved the development and qualification of an active defence system for submarines: the Interactive Defence and Attack System (IDAS).
The Interactive Defence and Attack System is developed in collaboration between ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Diehl Defence.
The IDAS is a surface-to-air missile system directed by wires and designed to oppose aerial threats from an undersea position. It consists of a missile, a launch container, and the integration of a combat system. The system stays on standby and is prepared to deploy when the submarine crew identifies a possible threat.
The IDAS has a major advantage in that it allows the submarine to engage a target without exposing its optronic mast or surface, greatly reducing the chance of being detected. The missile first moves underwater in the direction of the target. After that, it rises to the surface, speeds up to cruising speed, and flies towards the target. The missile is always under the control of an operator inside the submarine during the engagement. This allows the operator to change the target or terminate the mission if needed.
The IDAS can also engage surface targets in addition to its primary mission, eliminating the requirement for heavy torpedo use. It can even hit targets on land with the help of GPS integration. The missile has an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker and is anticipated to have a range of more than 15 kilometres (9.32 miles).
(Photo Credit: Naval Technology)
This development is equally important for Turkiye. At the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul in 2013, Roketsan, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, and Diehl Defence inked a cooperation agreement to develop the submarine-launched IDAS missile.
