Airborne acoustic detection

Ultra is the world leader at designing and supplying advanced sonobuoys, the highly sensitive acoustic sensors that are dropped from maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters. Ultra supplies more than half of the Western world’s sonobuoys. Through Maritime Systems, Sonar & Communication Systems and UnderSea Sensor Systems Inc., Ultra offers a full range of active, passive and multistatic sonobuoys to the world’s markets. These include LOFAR, DIFAR, HIDAR, VLAD, Barra, DICASS, ALFEA, CAMBS, coherent and incoherent source sonobuoys and bathythermal buoys. Sonobuoy receivers from Flightline Systems are fitted to the world’s latest rotary and fixed wing maritime patrol aircraft, including the US Navy’s P-8A and the MH-60R aircraft, the UK’s Nimrod MR2 and MRA4 aircraft, the European NH-90 programme and the Canadian MHP. Through a teaming arrangement, Ultra is also able to offer the AQS 970 acoustic processor for maritime patrol aircraft. This system is fitted in the new UK Nimrod MRA4 and a derivative system has been retrofitted to the existing Nimrod Mk 2 fleet. These three areas of expertise - sonobuoys, sonobuoy receivers and acoustic processors - allow Ultra to offer a unique ‘sensor to display’ airborne acoustic detection capability to maximise overall system performance in the detection of submarines. UnderSea Sensor Systems Inc. also produces autonomous surveillance systems that are rapidly deployable for protection of harbour entrances or critical shipping lanes. Ultra’s expertise in data fusion and inbuoy processing is being used to develop long-life multi-sensor tactical surveillance systems. Flightline Systems also supplies a range of gyroscopes and cockpit indicators used in fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, both military and civil.