Retractable antenna for unmanned undersea vehicle

A retractable antenna system for use with an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) for improved communications in sea environments, the retractable antenna system comprising:

• a housing having
• a hydrodynamic shape to reduce drag,
• a lower surface which is sized and configured to compliment the size and
• shape of the UUV to which it is attached,
• one or more buoyancy fairings,
• one or more access panel selectively moveable between open and closed states
• to facilitate deployment or retraction of the antenna system;
• and
• an antenna assembly, capable of selective deployment out of and retraction into the housing,
• the antenna assembly comprising:
• a mast having a longitudinal axis,
• a first antenna, mounted atop the mast,
• a second antenna comprising one or more retractable antenna element, wherein
• the second antenna opens to a position substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mast in a deployed status and closes to a position substantially parallel and adjacent to the mast when in an un-deployed status,
• wherein the mast is rotatably coupled to the housing, and operably coupled to an actuator for movement between deployed status and un-deployed status.