Sonobuoys - All Types

The Sonobuoys All Types program is a critical component of the Navy's Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) mission, supporting maritime supremacy against near-peer threats. The program's primary goal is to procure air-launched, expendable electro-mechanical sensors that relay underwater acoustic data to remote processors. These sensors are essential for detecting, classifying, and localizing submarines and ships, thereby maintaining the Navy's operational readiness and combat effectiveness. The program supports key platforms such as the P-8 Poseidon, P-3 Orion, and H-60 helicopters, ensuring that the fleet is equipped with the necessary tools for ASW operations.

Procurement quantities within the Sonobuoys All Types line item are determined by Fleet demand and combat stock levels, as modeled by the Navy's annual Munitions Requirements Process (NMRP). This process estimates inventory requirements for combat stock, readiness, current operations, and squadron training/testing. The program operates on a buy-to-budget approach, leveraging actual fleet usage, forecasted needs, and negotiated pricing to maximize value and maintain adequate inventory. The request includes both discretionary and mandatory reconciliation funds, which will procure additional quantities of key sonobuoy types.

AN/SSQ-36 (BT) Bathythermograph sonobuoys are procured to provide vertical ocean temperature profiles, which are transmitted to aircraft to inform hydrophone depth selection and tactical decisions for submarine localization. The request includes procurement of units to support both operational and training requirements. These sonobuoys are vital for long-range acoustic condition forecasts and optimizing ASW tactics in varying ocean environments.

AN/SSQ-53 (DIFAR) Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording sonobuoys are passive acoustic sensors that deliver bearing and frequency information to detect, classify, and localize undersea targets. The budget reflects their high operational usage and importance in maintaining continuous ASW coverage. DIFAR sonobuoys are foundational for passive detection strategies and are widely used across Navy ASW platforms.

AN/SSQ-62 (DICASS) Directional Command Active Sonobuoy System sonobuoys provide commandable, active acoustic directional sensing to deliver target bearing and range information. The request supports both peacetime and wartime inventory objectives. DICASS sonobuoys are essential for active search and localization missions, complementing the passive capabilities of other buoy types.

AN/SSQ-101 (ADAR) Multi-static Coherent Receiver and AN/SSQ-125/125A/125B Multi-static Active Coherent Source sonobuoys represent the Navy's transition to more sophisticated multi-static active sensor systems. These buoys are deployed in pairs to enable wide-area search concepts of operation (CONOPS), increasing efficiency and effectiveness in submarine detection. The request includes procurement of both AN/SSQ-101 and AN/SSQ-125B units, with production shifting solely to the more complex AN/SSQ-125B variant. These advanced sonobuoys are critical for supporting the foundational acoustic search capability of the P-8 Poseidon and meeting combatant commander ASW mission requirements.

The program also includes objectives related to industrial base health, supply chain risk mitigation, and production acceptance testing. The sonobuoy industrial base has transitioned from a sole-source environment to a competitive multiple-vendor model, with Sparton, Ultra-Undersea Sensor Systems Inc. (USSI), and Lockheed Martin competing for annual orders. This approach aims to preserve industrial base viability, achieve economies of scale, and reduce unit costs through competition. Funding supports product acceptance test infrastructure and may be used to procure strategic critical parts and tooling to enable surge capacity during wartime or contingency operations. The Sonobuoys All Types program is structured to balance immediate operational needs, long-term readiness, and industrial base sustainability.