Sonobuoys

In the context of aviation, Sonobuoys are small, expendable sonar systems that are dropped or ejected from aircraft or ships conducting anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic research. They are a pivotal part of maritime patrol aircraft operations. Sonobuoys are typically cylindrical in shape and contain hydrophones or transducers to detect underwater sounds. They transmit these sounds to airborne anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The sonobuoys are equipped with radio transmitters to send the acoustic data to the aircraft. They can operate in passive or active mode. In passive mode, they listen for sounds produced by submarines. In active mode, they emit a sonar pulse and listen for the echo, helping to locate submarines. The data collected by sonobuoys can be used to determine the position, depth, and movement of submarines, providing critical information for anti-submarine warfare operations. Sonobuoys are usually deployed in patterns, depending on the nature of the mission and the specific search area. They have a limited operational life, ranging from 30 minutes to 8 hours, after which they self-scuttle to avoid detection.