Inventors:
Daniel W. French - Portsmouth RI
Theodore C. Gagliardi - Somerset MA
Steven L. Camara - Portsmouth RI
John J. Vaillancourt - Tiverton RI
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC
International Classification:
H01Q 104
Abstract:
An antenna extension system for extending an antenna from an underwater vehicle. The system comprises a housing disposed wholly within the vehicle and a plurality of telescopically connected tiers extendible from a base tier disposed within the housing, an innermost of the tiers being adapted to support the antenna. A cable extends from a base portion of the housing and is fixed at a distal end to the antenna. A plurality of telescopically connected fairings are extendible from the housing and are disposed around the tiers and the cable. A cap is fixed to a distal end of a distalmost of the fairings for enclosing the antenna. Extension of the telescopically connected tiers from the base tier moves the antenna from wholly inside the housing to a position extending outwardly from the vehicle, and extends the cable and fairings with the tiers.