What's In Your Trash?

This sounds clever. Described as a flying periscope, the article does not cite the cost of this one shot toy.

America has gone one better than Germany in the race to develop the world's most powerful submarine-launched robot aircraft. US arms giant Raytheon has announced a model which can be deployed at depth without modification to the submarine.

The new U-UAV is dubbed SOTHOC, for Submarine Over the Horizon Organic Capabilities. The launch system works by deploying a sealed can through the sub's waste disposal lock. The can then sinks away safely to get clear of the boat. On reaching a preset depth it dumps weight to become positively buoyant and ascends to the surface. Once stable at the surface, it aligns itself into wind and launches a one-shot, disposable UAV.

It is certainly a clever weapon system, but how do we counter it when the enemy does this to us? Lets assume you can detect this at 10 miles and it is watching your ship under good visibility. Now lets say you are a destroyer, how do you shoot it down at that range? Electronic attack?

These small UAV systems don't have to be submarine launched, the real danger comes when everyone is actively using these small UAVs to recon naval forces. Depending upon cost and capability, the counter could be something as simple as a smoke machine, or something as complicated as a remote control bullet.

A EW option could be best, if we can use it without revealing a precise position to a larger degree than a UAV operating at 10 miles already is.