Review Raytheon Company led the Forward Payloads and Sensors for Submarines (Forward PASS) consortium, a four-member team representing industry and government, in recent in-water testing that successfully demonstrated the hydrodynamic stability and hydrostatic robustness of the Broaching Universal Buoyant Launcher.

The BUBL program is poised to provide the means for radically new payload employment on present day and future submarine platforms. "The successful BUBL demonstration and test is a true testament to the value of focus and collaboration," said Richard Buchanan, vice president of Submarine and Undersea Systems for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The Forward PASS consortium is a model partnership with the cooperative teaming of government and industry talents working together to bring the best possible products to the fleet. We are proud to play such an integral role."

Forward PASS industry participants include Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, General Dynamics-Electric Boat and TPI Composites. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport Division provides critical, complementary support.

The goal of the BUBL concept is "universal" weapon encapsulation, which can enable any payload to be deployed from any submarine under any operating conditions. BUBL is also investigating the capability of launching payloads at greater speeds and depths while providing flexibility in stowage locations onboard submarine platform hosts. Payloads currently under consideration for such packaging include a wide range of present and future unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.

BUBL was conceptualized by the Forward PASS consortium after participating in the Submarine Payloads and Sensors study sponsored jointly by the U.S. Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, focusing on advanced payloads and sensors for future submarines.

The BUBL program, which is more than 50 percent complete, includes construction of prototype items for the capsule structure, electronics/sensor and power subsystems, and culminates in the launch of an Army missile airframe demonstrating submarine launch feasibility. If the technology demonstration is successful, BUBL could enter service as early as 2007 depending on the payload that is selected for use.