German company Diehl Defence has unveiled its IDAS (Interactive Defence and Attack System) missile at the MSPO 2025 exhibition, marking a significant shift in submarine warfare capabilities.
Unlike conventional submarine armaments, IDAS enables submarines to engage helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft, and even small surface vessels. The system launches from standard 533 mm torpedo tubes, with each missile connected via a fibre-optic cable that allows real-time guidance throughout its flight.
This breakthrough moves beyond the traditional “fire-and-forget” approach, granting submarines an active defensive role against aerial and surface threats. Strategically, the IDAS system enhances submarine survivability in contested waters such as the Baltic Sea or the South China Sea, potentially reshaping the global balance in anti-submarine warfare.
