Brenda Marie Rivers
A General Atomics affiliate has demonstrated the use of A-size sonobuoys to remotely process acoustic and bathythermal data when deployed from an unmanned aircraft system to support U.S. Navy's anti-submarine warfare operations.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. used a satellite communications link to perform data processing and target tracking via Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System, Bathythermograph and Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording devices in a demonstration with an MQ-9A Block 5 UAS at a Navy test range, the company said Tuesday.
Ten buoys were released by the remotely piloted aircraft and worked to monitor an Expendable Mobile ASW Training Target.
A UYS-505 processor technology from General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada helped GA-ASI generate the EMATT track via a flight operations hub at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Grounds.
GA-ASI developed the airborne ASW capability for the MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS through a research and development partnership with Naval Air Systems Command.
The SeaGuardian' wing stations are designed to accommodate up to four sonobuoy dispenser system pods.
GA-ASI has updated a system to manage deployed sonobuoys and produced a pneumatic SDS that can support 10 A-size or 20 G-size buoys on each pod since a 2017 remote processing capability demo.
