General Atomics demonstrates self-contained ASW sonobuoy dispensing from UAS
Unmanned ASW capability will eventually be provided from SeaGuardian.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has completed development and test of what it described on 20 January as the first self-contained ASW capability for a UAS.
The company is developing this capability for its MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS, in partnership with the USN under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Naval Air Systems Command.
An 'A' size sonobuoy Carriage, release, process and control of seven AN/SSQ-53G Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR) sonobuoys was demonstrated by General Atomics from an MQ-9A Block 5 at a USN test range in the Pacific.
Two AN/SSQ-62F Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy Systems and one AN/SSQ-36B bathythermograph were also deployed from the MQ-9A in the November 2020 test, with data being remotely processed via a SATCOM link.
The sonobuoys detected and tracked a Mk39 expendable mobile ASW target over a three-hour period.
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