AGILE Sonobuoy Launcher

Current helicopter sonobuoy launchers are complex, heavy and will not meet future requirements for mission versatility. Because of the complexity of the launcher and its pneumatic subsystem, the launcher has many points of potential failure; its reliability is poor. Further, as in other pneumatic systems involving stored compressed air, the system is subject to vagaries of pressure which can result in uneven or incomplete expulsion of stores. Phase I proved the feasibility of an "AGILE" (Airborne Gas Inflator Lightweight Ejector) launcher using COTS automotive airbag inflators as a source of sonobuoy ejection energy, a lightweight, modular structure and intelligent controls. The Phase II project will validate the concept by building and testing a full-scale prototype. The individual AGILE launcher cells are independent of external energy sources. This permits the consideration of innovative concepts for launcher design and operation. The use of inflators also imparts many other advantages. The AGILE Launcher eliminates virtually all moving parts, thus reducing failures and simplifying logistics and maintenance. The proposed launcher will be extremely reliable, lightweight, versatile and safe, with a lower total ownership cost achieved through reduced maintenance, repair and logistics support requirements.