General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Navy successfully completed a critical flight test to enhance the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian® Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (UAS). During the tests conducted on December 17, the number of Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) pods carried by the MQ-9B was increased, thereby doubling the platform’s sonobuoy capacity.
In the flight tests carried out by GA-ASI and the U.S. Navy, a new phase was reached in Anti-Submarine Warfare capability with the increase in the capacity of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian’s Sonobuoy Dispensing System.
A First in UAV Technology: MAC Buoy Deployment
The conducted flight test marked the first-ever deployment of Multi-Static Active Coherent (MAC) buoys from an unmanned platform. Providing high effectiveness in submarine detection over wide areas, MAC buoys allow a larger area to be scanned with fewer units compared to traditional methods (DIFAR and DICASS).
GA-ASI President David R. Alexander stated that the increased capacity is an integral part of advanced ASW strategies, saying, “The broad maritime coverage provided by the MQ-9B is extremely valuable for our customers.”
Sensors Used and the Test Process
The flight tests, carried out with the support of the U.S. Navy, specifically aimed at certifying the Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) and demonstrated the operational flexibility of the MQ-9B. Within the scope of the tests, SeaGuardian successfully deployed AN/SSQ-36 Bathythermograph buoys that measure ocean temperature profiles, AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR buoys for passive listening, and AN/SSQ-62F DICASS buoys that provide active target detection. This process, conducted with government oversight and technical support from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) AIRWorks, directly provided data to the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s 7th Fleet operational evaluation activities.
Operational Clearance Expected in January 2026
SeaGuardian; Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC ve Group Sail gibi önemli uluslararası tatbikatlarda gösterdiği başarılarla kendini kanıtlamıştı. Gerçekleştirilen son testlerin ve veri incelemelerinin tamamlanmasının ardından, ABD Donanması’nın Ocak 2026‘da MQ-9B SeaGuardian ile tam kapsamlı ASW operasyonları yürütülmesi için GA-ASI’ye resmi konuşlandırma uçuş izni vermesi bekleniyor.
Source: C4Defence / GA-ASI
