General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), an affiliate of U.S. General Atomics which designs and manufactures remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars and electro-optic and related mission systems, has deployed and tested anti-submarine sensors on MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone using multiple pre-production sonobuoy dispensing system (SDS) pods.
This is the “first-ever” demonstration of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability on an MQ-9B SeaGuardian, GA-ASI said, adding that its newly designed SDS pods deployed multiple sonobuoys to conduct onboard thermal-depth and acoustic data processing.
“Using Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR), Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System (DICASS), and Bathythermograph sonobuoys, SeaGuardian effectively detected, tracked, and analyzed underwater targets while collecting critical acoustic intelligence,” the company noted.
GA-ASI’s President David R. Alexander commented: “This demonstration represents a major leap forward in unmanned capabilities and marks a major milestone in proving that an unmanned aircraft can perform end-to-end persistent ASW operations. The success of this testing paves the way for enhanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities on the MQ-9B SeaGuardian. We look forward to continued collaboration with the U.S. Navy as they explore innovative solutions for distributed maritime operations in the undersea domain.”
To note, as part of the development process, GA-ASI, reportedly, deployed multiple directional frequency analysis and recording (DIFAR) and directional command activated sonobuoy system (DICASS) test sonobuoys, “precisely correlating ejection speed with stress/strain data.” According to GA-ASI, this provided a high-fidelity launch model to refine future deployment capabilities.
As disclosed, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) AIRWorks played a “key” role in supporting and overseeing the development, “ensuring the system meets emerging warfighter needs.”
It is worth mentioning that in 2024, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) selected SeaGuardian RPA systems for its ‘Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’ program. Furthermore, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) signed a contract for the purchase of two SeaGuardian RPA.
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