Patent ID: 8179327

Claim:
A sub-surface deployable antenna array, said antenna array comprising: a tow cable which is deployable from an undersea vessel; a plurality of watertight antenna modules slidably mounted on said tow cable, said plurality of watertight antenna modules being electronically interconnected, said plurality of watertight antenna modules having a specific gravity whereby a buoyant force acting on said plurality of watertight antenna modules is capable of placing said plurality of watertight antenna modules to float on a water surface to provide that said antenna array substantially conforms to the water surface; expandable and contractable connectors disposed between respective ones of said plurality of watertight antenna modules with said tow cable extending through said expandable and contractable connectors, said expandable and contractable connectors capable of expanding after said antenna array is deployed to the surface of the body of water whereby an overall length of said antenna array is expandable in a direction substantially parallel to the water surface after said plurality of watertight antenna modules slide away from each other over said tow cable, said expandable and contractable connectors being contractable for storage of said antenna array whereby an overall length of said antenna array is contractable as said plurality of watertight antenna modules slide toward each other, said expandable and contractable connectors being sufficiently flexible when expanded to permit respective ones of said plurality of watertight antenna modules to individually floatingly conform to a variable effect of the water surface; and wherein said expandable and contractable connectors comprise remotely-controllable assemblies operable for adjusting spacing between said plurality of watertight antenna modules whereby an overall length of said antenna array is remotely controllable.