BoomSlang Maritime - A Low-Cost, Expendable Sonobuoy-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

A novel Sonobuoy Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SL UAV) system, BoomSlang Maritime (M), is proposed to be developed for enhanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations. This expendable system integrates into existing P-8A sonobuoy launcher infrastructure and combines magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) with deployable in-water passive acoustic sensing capabilities. The system achieves controlled deployment from high-altitude launch, autonomous transition to stable flight, and execution of pre-programmed search patterns. The UAV will incorporate a high-sensitivity magnetometer, with a wide dynamic range. The acoustic sensor component provides frequency coverage with automated deployment capabilities. Operating at altitudes between 500-2,000 ft with a long endurance and long-range line-of-sight range, BoomSlang Maritime enables persistent multi-modal ASW search, detection, tracking, and classification capabilities. The system's onboard processing supports advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. This integrated approach represents a significant advancement in expendable ASW sensor deployment, offering enhanced underwater threat detection capabilities in a compact, cost-effective package.