Listening Sticks: US Navy Sonobuoy Contracts
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Asia - Central, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, R&D - Contracted, Sensors - Aquatic, Spotlight articles, UAVs

Sonobuoys are used to detect and identify moving underwater objects by either listening for the sounds produced by propellers and machinery (passive detection), or by bouncing a sonar “ping” off the surface of a submarine (active detection). They usually float, or have at least some part of them that does. Specialized sonobuoys can also detect electric fields, magnetic anomalies, and bioluminescence (light emitted by microscopic organisms disturbed by a passing submarine); as well as measuring environmental parameters like water temperature versus depth, air temperature, barometric pressure, and wave height.
Sonobuoys are generally dropped from aircraft or helicopters that are equipped with a means to launch them, and electronic equipment to receive and process data sent by the sonobuoy. They can also be launched from ships.
This entry will discuss some of the new sonobuoys in use, and also begin covering related contracts – including a contract for Sparton, amidst financial issues and leadership changes…
- Sonobuoy Types
- Contracts & Key Events [updated]
One Source: Hundreds of programs; Thousands of links, photos, and analyses
DII brings a complete collection of articles with original reporting and research, and expert analyses of events to your desktop - no need for multiple modules, or complex subscriptions. All supporting documents, links, & appendices accompany each article.
Benefits
- Save time
- Eliminate your blind spots
- Get the big picture, quickly
- Keep up with the important facts
- Stay on top of your projects and your competitors
Features
- Ability to conduct complex searches
- Coverage of procurement and doctrine issues
- Timeline of past and future program events
- Comprehensive links to other useful resources




