Ultra Maritime has secured a US Navy contract for the low-rate initial production of AN/SSQ-125B sonobuoys, designed to detect increasingly quiet submarines at longer ranges.
The systems will support training, routine operations, and stockpiling for potential large-scale conflict, helping the service maintain sufficient inventories of undersea detection tools.
Unlike earlier models, the AN/SSQ-125B is designed to operate in more complex acoustic environments, where background noise and improved submarine stealth make detection more challenging.
Enhanced signal processing delivers clearer acoustic data, enabling operators to identify and track threats more quickly.
“This enhanced performance and extended detection area delivers substantial improvements to the ASW kill chain, providing operators with clearer acoustic data and faster, more confident decision-making,” Ultra Maritime president and CEO Carlo Zaffanella said.
US Expands Submarine Detection Capabilities
The contract reflects the US Navy’s ongoing effort to modernize its submarine detection toolkit, with sonobuoys remaining a central component of that effort.
In September 2024, Ultra Maritime received a $99.9-million contract for low-rate initial production of AN/SSQ-53H sonobuoys, which combine passive and wideband acoustic sensing to enhance underwater detection flexibility.
Earlier investments also highlight the scale of effort.
In September 2022, the US Navy awarded Sparton and Ultra Maritime a $182-million contract to produce 126,000 sonobuoys, including multiple variants used for training and combat operations across platforms such as the P-8A Poseidon.
