I heard also the same thing. In my thesis, one part is about this subject- polyphem or with the name given for the naval operations-TRITON

Surveillance and monitoring of the sea from the air - especially from antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopters - still poses the greatest threat to submarines. Equipped with high performance detection equipment and intelligent lightweight torpedoes, helicopters can deploy quickly to the operations area and stay there on patrol for considerable periods of time. While the submarine tries to avoid detection by virtue of its low signatures and by making full use of favourable water layers, up to now the risk to the helicopter crew was negligible. This one-sided position of advantage could only be countered until now by building even quieter submarines with increased submerged endurance.
But submarines not only face an ever-increasing number of ASW helicopters, already considered part of the standard equipment of any modern frigate, the quality of their sensors and torpedoes is also the subject of continuous improvement. It was therefore only a natural consequence that the navies of the world began to search for a suitable way for the submarine to actively defend itself against hostile helicopters from a submerged position. Obviously, the main objective was to be able to destroy the helicopter.However, almost as much importance was attached to the psychological effect of this kind of weapon on the helicopter crews, which would result in serious restrictions to ASW operations and therefore in changed operational methods and missions, A wide range of concepts emerged from the design offices and drawing boards. In Germany, at the end of the 1980s it was decided to continue developments along the lines of the POLYPHEM project, which was a fibre-optic guided missile intended originally for use by the Army.

In October 1998 the TRITON Consortium, consisting of the three companies
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW), LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysterne GmbH (LFK), and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) in Norway was contracted by the Federal German Office for Military Technology and Procurement to carry out an experimental study to demonstrate the feasibility of the TRITON concept. TRITON is the name given to the fibre-optic guided missile to be developed for operational use from a submerged submarine on the basis of the POLYPHEM missile, LFK belongs to the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). LFK is the leader on the international market for wire and fibre-optic guided missiles. In the scope of co-operation within the consortium, LFK will develop and deliver the TRITON missile including associated fibre-optic technology and the missile control computer system.
KDA is part of the Kongsberg concern and is responsible for delivering the Command and Weapon Control System (CWCS) for the new German and Italian class 212A submarines. In the TRITON Consortium, KDA will build the weapon control console and is responsible for integration of the system into the CWCS.
HDW will ensure integration of the TRITON system into the submarine and deliver the missile launching container by means of which the missile is expelled from the submarine. HDW is also the speaker for the consortium.
The advances in fibre-optic technology and signal processing plus the ability to unwind an optical fibre behind a guided missile in flight permit the development of a weapon system that utilises the optical fibre as a bi-directional broadband high-performance transmission device between a remote-controlled airborne vehicle and a submarine. In extensive trials the survivability and performance of the optical fibre has been tested. Short and long-term trials have been carried out. The behaviour of the fibre in a maritime scenario has been successfully tested.
In addition to the already mentioned advantages, optical fibres are
_ lightweight
_ non-sensitive to electromagnetic influence and
_ capable of simultaneous data transfer in both directions.

The Advantages of Fibre-Optic Technology for use in Missiles:

The high data transmission rates possible with fibre-optic technology enable images to be sent from the missile to the weapon control console. TRITON is therefore equipped with an infrared camera that allows the operator to follow the entire flight until the missile reaches its target, seen as it were though the eye of the missile ("the man in the loop&#8221
The operator can make use of this optical information for reconnaissance purposes, but he can also select and identity the target and determine the precise point of impact, because the target becomes increasingly clearer and larger as the missile gets closer. With the help of these fascinating abilities, a major effect can be achieved even with a relatively small warhead. A further advantage is that damage to third parties (civilians) can largely be avoided and it is possible to prevent greater damage ("collateral damage") than necessary or inevitable to fulfil the tactical mission. This weapon opens a whole range of new tactical possibilities for the submarine. Where the submerged submarine had to rely exclusively on its sonar (if we disregard the use of hoistable masts), it is now provided with an additional optical component for target acquisition, identification and selection, for determination of the point of impact and for hit confirmation.

In the past, missiles had to be fired under the motto of "fire and forget”, but now the operator retains all weapon employment options from launch to impact at the target. The fibre-optic guided missile considerably widens the overall scope of submarine weaponry. Fighting helicopters is not a task assigned to submarines. The use of missiles against ASW helicopters is therefore only a partial aspect, namely the defensive side of the possible mission spectrum. The other aspect is the use of these weapons against surface ships and targets on land in coastal areas.

The Operational Concept of the TRITON Missile :
Missiles such as SUBHARPOON and SM 39, which are capable of being fired from submerged submarines, are as a rule Navy-adapted versions of Army or Air Force weapons. They are provided with extendable rudder/planes and wings and are loaded into pressure and watertight capsules, which can be expelled from the torpedo tube. When the capsule reaches the surface, the missile is fired from the capsule and flies to its target on the basis of pre-programmed controls and using its own on-board sensors,
The fibre-optic guided missile TRITON works on a very different principle, for a number of reasons. TRITON is hydraulically launched from a launching container, which can be handled like a heavy-weight torpedo and loaded into any torpedo tube. Once TRITON has left the submarine, it starts up its propulsion system, unfolds its wings and control fins and heads straight for the water surface. With the help of a booster, it then achieves cruising speed. Cruising and target acquisition take place automatically. However, the operator can change the flight path or select a different target at any time. During flight, the infrared camera can be piloted horizontally and vertically. Images are shown on the display and recorded for later evaluation.
System Design and Features The system consists of a missile launching container with four TRITON missiles and a fire control computer, and uses a weapon control console as operator interface. The fire control computer comprises all subsystems essential to system operation. Primary subsystems include:
_ mission planning and preparation equipment
_ image processing unit
_ target tracker and guidance computer and
_ embedded IR simulator.

The TRITON Missile System offers remarkable features to the submarine and its mission:
_ it can be integrated into any class of submarine
_ it allows attack of ASW-helicopters and patrol aircraft
_ it can be utilised against ships
_ it surrounds the submarine with a self defence zone up to 15 km
_ it allows attack against targets at land
_ it leaves the full range of operation to the submarine
_ it is fully resistant to jamming and countermeasures
_ it allows salvo firing against one or multi targets
_ it simplifies target detection by imaging infrared camera/computer support
_ it provides surveillance information
_ it reports target hit
_ it allows selective and precise strike with an optimised warhead system
_ it has man-in-the-loop technology, avoiding 'friendly fire casualties".


The missile is equipped with a multi-functional warhead, offering highest efficiency against various types of targets. The warhead contains an electro-optical ignition system. The payload consists of a combined warhead system equipped with an intelligent fuse. The function of the fuse is adjusted when the target choice is made. The effect of a TRITON missile on the target is determined by the combination of the warhead and the unique capability to hit the target at precisely its most sensitive point (for the required effect). The warhead will be very effective against helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft. The bigger fragments of the warhead will perforate lighter armour easily. To destroy high-speed boats, the initiation system is set so that the warhead first penetrates the boat's shell first and then fulfils the blast and fragmentation effect inside, representing a catastrophic kill for such targets. Against larger vessels, the impact in vulnerable spots represents damage which renders them invalid. The accurately aimed impact will destroy vulnerable places and the fragments can deploy their capacity to full extent. Against coastal sites the warhead will also perforate brick and concrete walls due to its penetrator performance.

Future Prospects
The objective of the current study is to prove feasibility of the TRITON concept from underwater expulsion from die submarine to initiation of the cruising phase at altitude. Stationary expulsion trials. have been taking place since February 2000. Parallel to these trials, tests are being performed with the main components of the missile. The first expulsion of dummy missiles from a submerged submarine was carried out successfully in July 2000. The feasibility study will be concluded with a test firing in the autumn of 2001. After subsequent final development, the system is expected to be available in 2005. The class 212A submarines will probably be the first to be equipped with TRITON. However, a number of foreign navies have also indicated their interest in the system.

If you find additional news about TRITON please send me to develop this short passage.
thanks.
Derya