The water-ram system uses hydraulic power to generate the pressure that pushes a weapon out of its launch tube. Hanwha Ocean developed controls to regulate that force so the weapon leaves the tube at the required speed.
The launcher is designed to withstand strong shocks and the high water pressure it encounters when the tube’s outer door opens for a launch at depth. Hanwha Ocean says it added several layers of safety mechanisms and simplified the design to make the launcher easier to operate and maintain.
The project also produced tools for analysing how weapons behave during launch, allowing engineers to adapt the launcher to different submarine designs. The company says those tools could shorten development of related equipment and help it refine systems for future submarines.
Hanwha Ocean has designed, built and supported submarines and surface warships for the Republic of Korea Navy for more than four decades. The shipbuilder says it has delivered more than 1,400 vessels worldwide since it was founded in 1973, including more than 110 naval ships.
