The U.S. Navy is steadily advancing its unmanned anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, following a recent flight test of the MQ-9B SeaGuardian that doubled the aircraft’s sonobuoy carriage and marked the first time Maritime Air Command (MAC) buoys were deployed from an uncrewed platform. The event highlights a broader effort to establish persistent, networked maritime surveillance that could significantly reshape how the Navy monitors vast ocean areas and counters undersea threats.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced on 13 January 2026 that it had completed the new flight test with the U.S. Navy. Conducted on 17 December 2025, the trial employed more Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) pods than previous exercises, effectively doubling the number of sonobuoys the SeaGuardian could carry. This test not only demonstrated an increase in payload but also validated the aircraft’s integrated acoustic monitoring and data-sharing capabilities, marking an important step toward networked, persistent unmanned ASW operations.
GA-ASI explained that the SeaGuardian’s ASW configuration is designed as a packaged capability: combining sonobuoy carriage and deployment with onboard monitoring, acoustic processing, and networked data sharing. Each SDS pod can carry and dispense up to 10 A-size sonobuoys or 20 G-size sonobuoys, while the Sonobuoy Monitoring and Control System (SMCS) processes acoustic information transmitted from these buoys. GA-ASI states that the system can generate target tracks—including estimates of speed, course, and depth—and relay that data through tactical links to other maritime assets, rather than keeping the information isolated to the aircraft.
Operationally, these capabilities have significant implications. ASW effectiveness depends on time on station, sensor density, and the ability to refresh and reposition assets as underwater contacts move. By doubling dispenser capacity, the SeaGuardian provides greater flexibility in how sonobuoy fields are laid, re-laid, and adjusted over time. Coupled with SMCS processing and networked data sharing, the platform can turn its buoy deployment into a live, shared contribution to broader maritime situational awareness rather than a one-off collection effort.
GA-ASI emphasized that SeaGuardian has already been integrated into U.S. Navy exercises, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC, and Group Sail. These exercises have helped validate not only the mechanics of sonobuoy release but also the integration of unmanned ISR and ASW data into fleet operations, laying the groundwork for operational deployment.
A parallel development in Europe underscores the growing interest in unmanned maritime reconnaissance. On 12 January 2026, Germany announced the purchase of eight MQ-9B aircraft for missions over water, including maritime reconnaissance and ASW support using underwing sonobuoy canisters. Berlin explicitly framed the purchase as a complement to its P-8A Poseidon fleet, combining the rapid response and high-end sensor capabilities of a crewed platform with the endurance and persistence of an uncrewed aircraft. The German Air Force expects delivery beginning in 2028, with operations based at Naval Air Wing 3 Graf Zeppelin in Nordholz. Officials noted that allied units could access the collected data, highlighting a coalition dimension in unmanned maritime monitoring.
For the U.S. Navy, the strategic significance of SeaGuardian’s ASW push aligns with three intersecting pressures shaping naval operations: a growing need for persistent maritime awareness, the imperative to distribute forces under threat, and constraints on platform availability. The Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) concept emphasizes operating in contested environments where concentrating high-value crewed assets increases risk. In this context, long-endurance unmanned aircraft like the SeaGuardian allow forces to spread sensing, extend coverage, and complicate adversary targeting, particularly against modern submarines capable of operating undetected in key strategic areas.
The operational relevance of this approach is especially pronounced in regions where submarine activity intersects with critical sea lines and maritime chokepoints. In the Indo-Pacific, long distances, island chains, and complex transit routes make persistent coverage challenging with crewed aircraft alone. In the North Atlantic and Arctic, protecting sea lines of communication and undersea infrastructure has renewed attention, further emphasizing the need for continuous acoustic awareness. An unmanned aircraft capable of maintaining long-duration patrols and feeding acoustic data into a network allows the Navy to fill operational gaps that would otherwise leave opportunities for hostile submarines.
Importantly, unmanned sonobuoy operations could reshape the allocation of crewed ASW platforms. The P-8A Poseidon and MH-60R Seahawk remain critical for high-end prosecution, weapon delivery, and multi-sensor operations, but maintaining routine patrols and barrier coverage is resource-intensive. SeaGuardian’s ability to deploy and monitor sonobuoys, push acoustic data to command networks, and sustain coverage over patrol areas may free crewed assets for time-sensitive missions, surge operations, or complex tactical tasks. Additionally, unmanned operations reduce political and operational risk in contested areas, allowing forward deployments in conditions that might otherwise be deemed too dangerous for aircrew.
The networking aspect of the SeaGuardian ASW concept is central to its potential impact. The value of unmanned sonobuoy deployment increases dramatically when collected data can be fused, shared securely, and acted upon by other platforms. This aligns with broader Navy efforts under Project Overmatch and the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) initiative, which aim to connect sensors and shooters across the maritime, air, and land domains. The effectiveness of unmanned ASW operations is therefore proportional not just to how many sonobuoys are deployed, but to how efficiently the resulting acoustic tracks can cue crewed aircraft, surface combatants, or submarines in contested environments.
GA-ASI’s December 2025 flight test, combined with the company’s published SDS and SMCS capabilities and Germany’s procurement plans, point to a shared trajectory: expand the number of sonobuoys an MQ-9B can carry, pair this with onboard monitoring and processing, and integrate the data into a distributed network. Operational maturity will be measured less by whether an aircraft can physically drop a buoy and more by whether it can sustain a live acoustic picture under realistic conditions, contribute to the overall maritime situational picture, and enable timely decision-making across the fleet.
The long-term implications extend beyond tactical operations. Persistent unmanned ASW patrols could transform force posture, allowing the Navy to maintain continuous undersea awareness over large oceanic areas without over-reliance on limited crewed aircraft. This capability may also affect allied planning and coalition operations, enabling partners to share unmanned ISR data for common maritime security objectives. Combined with advances in acoustic processing and secure data networking, unmanned systems could become a central layer in the Navy’s layered ASW concept, complementing surface ships, submarines, and crewed aircraft.
GA-ASI’s statements also highlight the evolving philosophy behind unmanned maritime patrols. Rather than viewing SeaGuardian as a replacement for the P-8A or other crewed platforms, the emphasis is on distributed sensing and persistent surveillance. By deploying multiple unmanned aircraft across a wide area, the Navy can maintain continuous monitoring, refresh sensor coverage dynamically, and create a more complete undersea picture. This distributed model also complicates adversary planning, forcing potential opponents to account for a networked, resilient ASW capability rather than relying on localized suppression of individual aircraft.
The next stages for SeaGuardian will test its integration in operational conditions. Beyond simple buoy deployment, future evaluations will focus on whether the platform can sustain acoustic coverage in high-threat environments, maintain secure data links, and interface effectively with other elements of the Navy’s ASW network. The goal is a scalable, enduring system that allows unmanned aircraft to function as a persistent, cooperative node in a larger sensor network—turning routine sonobuoy operations into a decisive contribution to maritime control and undersea deterrence.
In summary, the December 2025 MQ-9B SeaGuardian flight test represents a key milestone in unmanned ASW development. Doubling sonobuoy carriage, demonstrating MAC buoy drops, and integrating acoustic processing with networked data sharing are steps toward persistent, distributed maritime surveillance. For the U.S. Navy and its allies, this capability promises to extend coverage, preserve crewed assets for high-value missions, and strengthen deterrence across contested oceans. As Germany’s procurement signals, the concept is gaining traction internationally, suggesting that uncrewed ASW operations may soon become a standard component of modern naval strategy.
