In February, we reported on a First-of-It's-Kind partnership between Ultra Maritime (US) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (India), on the co-production of US Sonobuoys. This story continues to evolve.
SILVERWARS
Now, in collaboration between, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Ultra Maritime, the two leading Military Industrial Complex companies are integrating cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems with sonobuoy tech in an effort to enhance the United States' anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
This strategic partnership highlights the urgent need for advanced, cost-efficient solutions in a complex global security landscape. As these technologies are incorporated into defense systems, they offer unmatched capabilities for tracking and countering underwater threats, securing U.S. maritime superiority.
Combing unmanned aerial systems (drones) with sonobuoys is new to maritime defense. The military industrial complex is shifting its focus to unmanned systems and Ai for the new era of warfare. Ai doesn't question its programming like humans tend to do, making it a far superior soldier on the battlefield in the eyes of the Pentagon. but this is coming at a cost which is lots and lots of silver.
Reap What You Sow
Dubbed the MQ-9B SeaGuardian, its the maritime-focused variant of the MQ-9A "Reaper" remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS).
The manufacturer touts that this model is the first in its class to enable real-time search and patrol above and below the ocean's surface.
This isn't to suggest the drone is capable of diving and then reemerging from the water like some dolphin--no. Its specifically because it is equipped with sonobuoys that can be dropped to pin-point their target hiding under the water. Every sonobuoy uses between 1.8-2.8 troy ounces each, depending if they've been designed for 4.5 or 6 hours of operation time as is standard.
Sonobuoys are the heroes of anti-submarine warfare, but hinge on a vital element and that is silver. Thanks in full to the defense partnership between Indian and US defense companies, the manufacturing will require silver batteries that have been outsourced for India to fill in for the continuous western supply deficit of silver.
Forty thousand sonobuoys are currently ordered through 2025, but multiple millions have been manufactured and used since the inception of the technology.
As we look towards the future, we see the MQ-9B helping deplete the world of its silver even faster, especially as the use case sinks to the bottom of the sea.
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