GA-ASI and the U.S. Navy are set to double the sonar capacity of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian for improved anti-submarine warfare by 2026.
General Atomics and the U.S. Navy are continuing their efforts to enhance the submarine defense capabilities of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Tests, which are planned to be implemented in 2026, have doubled the current sonar capacity.
ACCESS Newswire / SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Navy are continuing to expand the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian® Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The flight test was conducted on December 17 and included more Sonobuoy Deployment System (SDS) pods than previously tested, effectively doubling the number of current sonobuoys (sonar buoys).
David R. Alexander, President of GA-ASI, stated, 'The expansion of sonobuoy capacity, including the Multi-Static Active Coherent (MAC) technology for SeaGuardian, has been an integral part of our advanced ASW strategy to broaden and enhance search areas. The wider maritime coverage provided by the ASW capability of our MQ-9B is extremely valuable to our customers.'
Sonobuoys are marine sensors deployed from an aircraft into the ocean to assist in the detection of submarines. The SeaGuardian has deployed AN/SSQ-36 Bathythermograph, AN/SSQ-53G Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR) (passive), and AN/SSQ-62F Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System (DICASS) (active) buoys. This marked the first time Multi-Static Active Coherent (MAC) buoys were deployed from an unmanned aerial vehicle. MAC buoys are better at detecting submarines over large areas and require fewer buoys compared to the use of DIFAR and DICASS.
The flight tests, supported by the U.S. Navy, aimed specifically at certifying the SDS (Sonobuoy Deployment System). This flight test supports the operational evaluation deployment of the 7th Fleet by the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and has received additional support and government oversight from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) AIRWorks.
Following the completion of the test and data review, it is expected that the U.S. Navy will grant GA-ASI deployment flight permission for ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) operations using the MQ-9B SeaGuardian in January 2026.
The SeaGuardian has also been utilized in various recent exercises by the U.S. Navy, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC, and Group Sail.
About GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) worldwide. The Predator® UAS series has surpassed 9 million flight hours and has been operational for over 30 years, including models such as the MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. The company is dedicated to providing multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike capabilities with long endurance.
For more information, please visit www.ga-asi.com.
Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Source: www.denizhaber.com
