Equipmentman load sonobuoys onto a P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine warfare patrol aircraft. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Austin Ingram.

Ultra Sonobuoy Systems has been selected as a qualified industry partner to provide next-generation sonobuoys to the US Navy.

This five-year multiple award delivery order contract (MADOC) has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command of Patuxent River, Maryland US.

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Ultra will carry out the related work in Columbia City, Indiana. It is expected to be completed in September 2027.

Ultra Sonobuoy Systems president Eric Webster said: “We are very excited to be chosen by the US Navy to provide next-generation sonobuoys to support the fleet.

“With conflicts increasing with our near-peer rivals, importance of anti-submarine warfare and need for greater quantities of increasingly more capable sonobuoys continues to grow.

“I am extremely proud of Ultra team’s focus to deliver innovative solutions and ensure continuity of supply to the US Navy.”

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Once delivered, the additional sonobuoy capability will allow the US Navy to execute peacetime missions, annual training and testing expenditures, while sustaining the existing inventory to support other key combat missions.

Ultra has been a key supplier of sonobuoys to the US Navy as well as to other countries such as Canada and the UK.

On 03 October, the US Department of Defense (DoD) awarded a contract to Undersea Sensor Systems, Lockheed Martin and Sparton De Leon Springs.

The contract has a ceiling value of $5.10bn and builds on a previously awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.

The latest contract modification involves production and delivery of different types of sonobuoys, including passive, active/passive combo, special mission, bathythermograph and multistatic source/receiver.

In 2017, the Ultra received contract extension to produce and deliver additional sonobuoys for the UK Royal Navy’s (RN) Merlin helicopter fleet. 

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