General Atomics demonstrates self-contained ASW sonobuoy dispensing from UAS
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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