The US Navy has awarded a subcontract to ERAPSCO, a joint venture between Sparton and Ultra Electronics (ULE) subsidiary USSI, for the delivery of sonobuoys.
Under the $10.1m and $7.8m production deals to Sparton Electronics and USSI respectively, ERAPSCO will supply AN/SSQ-125 multistatic active coherent (MAC) source sonobuoys.
Featuring digital signal processing and compass capabilities, the A-size, expendable AN/SSQ-125 MAC sonobuoy enables airborne navy personnel to perform bearing verification, target localisation and tracking.
In addition, the underwater signalling and receiving device enables the operator to accurately detect very quiet diesel submarines or a underwater vessels in attack mode even in adverse conditions.
Capable of generating a variety of waveforms, the AN/SSQ-125 can be used to locate and identify acoustic emissions or reflections from enemy submarines and transmit signals to the navy airborne anti-submarine warfare forces.
Designed to provide support to the US Naval antisubmarine forces, the Q125 sonobuoy can be used with the AN/SSQ-53F, AN/SSQ-77C and AN/SSQ-101 (ADAR) sonobuoys to generate a variety of waveforms.
Before being deployed, the AN/SSQ-125’s RF channel can be programmed to any of the standard sonobuoy operating channels and can be changed to its operating parameters or in depths, generate a ping, or scuttle while on a mission.
Scheduled to be complete by March 2015, work under the latest subcontract will be performed at Sparton’s facility in DeLeon Springs, Florida, as well as at USSI’s facility in Columbia City, Indiana, US.
ERAPSCO is also developing 17,000 passive AN/SSQ-53F sonobuoys for the navy, under a separate $12.9m contract awarded earlier in 2012.
Image: A P-3 Orion aircraft being loaded with sonobuoys. Photo: courtesy of US Navy photographer’s mate 1st class John Collins.
