General Atomics’ SeaGuardian Demonstrates Sonobuoy Deployment Capabilities
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has announced that its MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully demonstrated its ability to deploy and use sonobuoys for anti-submarine missions.
During testing from 20 to 30 January, a General Atomics-operated MQ-9B SeaGuardian successfully deployed and tested anti-submarine sensors using multiple pre-production Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) pods.
The 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, the SeaGuardian effectively detected, tracked, and analyzed underwater targets while collecting “critical” acoustic intelligence.
“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,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “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.”
As part of the development process, GA-ASI successfully deployed multiple DIFAR and DICASS test sonobuoys, precisely correlating ejection speed with stress/strain data, providing a high-fidelity launch model to refine future deployment capabilities.
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. AIRWorks has partnered with GA-ASI in multiple ASW demonstrations, including the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2024.
The SeaGuardian is a variant of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian equipped with sensors specialized for maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions such as a multi-mode maritime surface-search radar with an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging mode, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, and High-Definition – Full-Motion Video sensor equipped with optical and infrared cameras. Current operators of the SeaGuardian include the Indian Navy and the Japan Coast Guard.