Launched air vehicle system

A launch canister for ejection from a submerged launch platform, the launch canister being adapted for ejection in a direction substantially along a first axis of the launch canister and for carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, the launch canister comprising:

• a nose cap releasably located in a launch opening at a forward end of the launch canister;
• a launch mechanism adapted such that when the launch canister carries a UAV and is ejected from the submerged launch platform, the launch mechanism drives, aided by momentum from the ejection of the canister in the direction substantially along the first axis, the UAV out of the launch canister through the launch opening in the direction substantially along the first axis;
• a water surface sensor for detecting when the nose cap of the launch canister broaches a water surface;
• a first lanyard attached at one end in the launch canister and having a second end adapted for detachable connection to a UAV,
• one or more guide elements adapted to direct motion of the launch canister towards the water surface at a preferred launch angle;
• and
• a second lanyard fixedly attached at one end to an external part of the launch canister and having a second end adapted for detachable connection to a submerged launch platform;
• wherein the launch canister is configured to, upon detection that the nose cap of the canister has broached a water surface by the water surface sensor, immediately release the nose cap and initiate the launch mechanism to drive a UAV out of the launch canister through the launch opening in the direction substantially along said first axis,
• wherein the length of the first lanyard is selected such that, when a UAV is connected to the first lanyard and the UAV is driven from the launch canister, the first lanyard pulls taut and detaches from the UAV as an engine of the UAV passes through the launch opening,
• wherein said second end of the first lanyard is adapted to cause the engine of the UAV to power up upon pulling taut and detaching from the UAV, and
• wherein the second lanyard is configured to pull taut at a first extension of the second lanyard when the launch canister is ejected from the submerged launch platform, and the one or more guide elements are configured to move from a stowed to a deployed position upon the second lanyard pulling taut at the first extension of the second lanyard, the first extension of the second lanyard being such that the one or more guide elements are deployed upon the launch canister fully exiting the submerged launch platform.