Boeing plans to build a submarine-drone hybrid

Boeing's latest patented invention is a drone that can dive deep into the ocean and continue its journey underwater.

Boeing's submarine-drone hybrid. Photo: Science Alert.

UAVs are used by the military and take off from aircraft carriers. As soon as it reaches the water, a section of the wing detaches to reduce drag.

The aircraft can continue its reconnaissance mission before surfacing to send a report back to base. Underwater, a buoyancy tank will help the aircraft move along the route along with two propellers.

According to Boeing, unmanned aircraft and submarines are often used in situations where it is dangerous for humans or too expensive. If equipped with cameras and sensors, they can act as eyes and ears for operators thousands of miles away.

Like any patent filing, this just suggests that Boeing is considering it and that some research is underway. It's unclear whether the company actually wants to develop the aircraft.

This isn’t the first time engineers have tried to create a hybrid between a plane and a submarine. The Soviet Union tried to build a flying submarine during World War II, but the design didn’t work. The Reid flying submarine from 1962 was the closest example, but it didn’t work well in both the air and the water, Gizmodo reports.

According to VnExpress