Enhanced Passive Sonobuoy and MSA Receiver - SBM5

The aim of this task is to de-risk the designs of an Enhanced Passive Sonobuoy (EPS) and a new Multi-Static Active (MSA) Receiver Sonobuoy (MSARS) optimised for use with the G-ALFEA sonobuoy. The main output of this task will be preliminary designs for the EPS and MSARS that would allow prototypes of the two sonobuoy types to be built with minimal technical risk in potential follow-on work.

Background

The Miniaturised Sonobuoy Phase 4 (SBM4) task resulted in a range of options being presented designed to meet the requirements for a G-size size sonobuoy capable of passive sensing and acting as a receiver in a Multi-Static Active (MSA) field. These options included sonobuoys that would meet both passive sensing and MSA receiver requirements in a single package and sonobuoy types that are specialised for either passive sensing or for use as a MSA receiver. A stakeholder workshop was held in which it was concluded that the best options to be taken forward are:

1. a specialised passive sensing sonobuoy that enhances the existing HIDAR sonobuoy with an additional wideband transducer, and
2. a specialised MSA receiver sonobuoy based on the BARRA sonobuoy but packaged as a G-size sonobuoy (G-BARRA sonobuoy)