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Northrop and Ultra move towards production-ready MQ-8 sonobuoy launcher

11th February 2021 - 09:00 GMT | by Tim Martin in London

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A collaboration between Northrop Grumman and Ultra Electronics could hold the key to new ASW capabilities for the MQ-8C Fire Scout UAV.

Northrop Grumman and Ultra Electronics plan on co-designing and manufacturing a new sonobuoy launcher for the MQ-8C Fire Scout, as they further develop ASW capabilities for the aircraft.

An Ultra prototype launcher was used to carry and deploy ‘G’-class sonobuoys (measuring 42cm in length) during a Fire Scout large area multi-static acoustic search test off the coast of California in October 2020 — a demonstration that could compel the USN to operate the MQ-8C in ASW missions.

‘What we’re working on now is going from a prototype [sonobuoy launcher] to doing more in-depth engineering and working towards a production system,’

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Tim Martin

Tim Martin is Air Editor for Shephard Media, based in Belfast.

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