Ultra Maritime and GA-ASI launch partnership to advance unmanned submarine detection

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Ultra Maritime have launched a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) through unmanned aerial technology.

As disclosed, the collaboration was revealed ahead of the Norwegian-Lithuanian Business Forum, held in Vilnius, where the two countries also signed a bilateral agreement to strengthen cooperation in high-tech and defense sectors. The partners aim to advance unmanned airborne detection and tracking of enemy submarines.

At the center of the new partnership is GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian, one of the world’s most advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a maritime derivative of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, designed for maritime missions like anti-surface, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare. In March of this year, GA-ASI tested anti-submarine sensors on an MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone using multiple pre-production sonobuoy dispensing systems (SDS) pods.

The SeaGuardian will be integrated with Ultra Maritime’s miniaturized sonobuoys and acoustic receivers, enabling autonomous, long-range detection and tracking of submarines.

According to the partners, the key features of the new ASW system include:

• Miniaturized sonobuoys: Half the size of traditional models, doubling UAS deployment capacity.
• Multi-static active (MSA) capability: Allows wide-area submarine detection and tracking.
• New acoustic receivers: Compact and highly efficient, optimized for GPS-denied conditions.
• Increased autonomy: Enables cost-effective and persistent surveillance with minimal human oversight.

The solution is fully funded through internal R&D and is expected to undergo operational demonstrations starting later in 2025 in the Indo-Pacific and other strategic regions.

As global security challenges evolve, particularly with the rise of stealthy submarines, GPS interference, and unmanned underwater threats, such innovations are being welcomed by countries seeking reliable, scalable defense technologies.

Ultra Maritime recently secured a contract to supply sonobuoy technologies in support of Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French government’s defense procurement and technology agency.