The US Navy has contracted Sparton Corporation for sonobuoy design enhancements under the high-altitude anti-submarine warfare (HAASW) technology development programme.

The company will develop, integrate and test a digital data link and global positioning system (GPS) into the AN/SSQ-101A production sonobuoy.

Sparton will also develop, integrate and test a GPS and analog data link in the AN/SSQ-53 and AN/SSQ-62 sonobuoys.

Work under the $8.9m subcontract will be carried out at Sparton’s facility in Florida, US, and is scheduled to be complete by February 2013.

The HAASW-modified sonobuoys are expected to improve the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission for the new US Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft.