In January, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) demonstrated the first-ever anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability on an MQ-9B SeaGuardian, a remotely-piloted aircraft system. During a test held from January 20 to 30, 2025, a company-operated MQ-9B SeaGuardian successfully deployed and tested anti-submarine sensors using multiple pre-production Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) pods.
The pods deployed multiple sonobuoys to conduct onboard thermal-depth and acoustic data processing. Using Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR), Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System (DICASS), and Bathythermograph sonobuoys, SeaGuardian effectively detected, tracked, and analyzed underwater targets while collecting critical acoustic intelligence.
As part of the development process, GA-ASI successfully deployed multiple DIFAR and DICASS test sonobuoys, precisely correlating ejection speed with stress/strain data. This provided a high-fidelity launch model to refine future deployment capabilities.
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) AIRWorks played a key role in supporting and overseeing the development, ensuring the system meets emerging warfighter needs. AIRWorks has partnered with GA-ASI in multiple ASW demonstrations, including the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2024.
GA-ASI says it has strong demand already in place from multiple customers, and the company anticipates increasing interest given the MQ-9B SeaGuardian’s capabilities at a lower cost than traditional manned maritime platforms.
MQ-9B SeaGuardian is the maritime-focused sibling of the SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft system that has been missionized using “bolt-on/bolt-off” maritime sensors. SeaGuardian is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for more than 30 hours (depending on configuration) in all types of weather.