DARPA outs unmanned drone-launching sub, piracy suddenly less attractive

UAVs and UUVs may be unmanned, but they still need a ride to the mission area. Cue the Hydra: an undersea troop-carrier that transports drones. Unlike a submarine, this submersible can operate in shallow waters and charge the batteries of its pilot-free payloads as well as transmit collected data. Even more impressive, it can launch its flight-worthy passengers without surfacing. If this sort of thing turns your crank, head over to John's Hopkins University next month to catch a presentation from DARPA. If your security clearance is high enough, you can even snag a special classified meeting after the regular Joes leave.