COLUMBIA CITY, Indiana — April 7, 2026 : Ultra Maritime has been awarded a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract by the U.S. Navy for the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the AN/SSQ-125B sonobuoy, a next-generation acoustic sensor designed to strengthen anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. The award, announced on April 6, 2026, supports both immediate operational requirements and long-term force readiness objectives.
Contract Scope and Operational Role
The LRIP contract is structured to support a range of U.S. Navy activities, including annual training exercises, routine peacetime operations, and ongoing testing and evaluation programs. It also ensures the maintenance of sufficient inventory levels required to sustain major combat operations, in accordance with the Navy’s munitions requirements process.
The AN/SSQ-125B will play a central role in maintaining operational readiness by providing deployable acoustic sensing capability across multiple mission scenarios.
System Overview and Program Details
The AN/SSQ-125B is the Multi-static Active Coherent (MAC) Source sonobuoy, a commandable coherent active search sensor with additional classified capabilities. It represents the latest iteration in the AN/SSQ-125 series, with U.S. Navy production plans transitioning exclusively to the B variant starting in fiscal year 2026 under a single-vendor framework.
According to Navy budget documents, the estimated unit cost of the AN/SSQ-125B ranges between $11,000 and $15,000, based on vendor-provided projections.
The AN/SSQ-125 series functions as the active source component within multistatic sonobuoy fields. These systems operate in coordination with receiver sonobuoys such as the AN/SSQ-101, enabling the detection, classification, and localization of submarines.
Technical Capabilities and Performance Enhancements
The AN/SSQ-125B has been developed to address the increasing complexity of the undersea battlespace, particularly the emergence of quieter and more technologically advanced submarines, as well as unmanned underwater vehicles.
Key technical improvements include advanced signal processing capabilities that enable effective isolation of acoustic signatures in high-noise ocean environments. The system also delivers extended detection range and improved acoustic performance, expanding the coverage area and enhancing the ability to track low-signature threats.
These enhancements contribute directly to improvements in the ASW kill chain by providing higher-fidelity acoustic data, reducing the time required for threat classification, and supporting more accurate operational decision-making.
Carlo Zaffanella, President and CEO of Ultra Maritime, stated on April 6, 2026, that the system is designed to detect even the quietest submarines at greater distances, while improving clarity of acoustic data and accelerating response timelines for operators.
Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Scalability
To support the transition to LRIP, Ultra Maritime has made strategic internal investments in advanced sonar technologies and manufacturing infrastructure. The company has established purpose-built facilities dedicated to the production of next-generation sonobuoys.
These investments ensure immediate production readiness and provide scalability to meet increasing procurement demands from the U.S. Department of Defense. They also support long-term sustainment and lifecycle management of critical ASW systems.
Ultra Maritime maintains established expertise in acoustic engineering and is currently the sole provider of all new U.S. specification sonobuoy variants. The company has previously contributed to the AN/SSQ-125 and AN/SSQ-125A series through joint ventures and predecessor organizations, including ERAPSCO.
Earlier contracts associated with the AN/SSQ-125 family were awarded to entities such as Sparton De Leon Springs LLC for modified high-duty-cycle variants, with production activities conducted in locations including De Leon Springs, Florida, and Columbia City, Indiana.
Program Context and Recent Developments
The AN/SSQ-125B LRIP contract represents the first production award for the upgraded variant and aligns with ongoing procurement efforts managed by the Navy’s Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Program Office (PMA-264).
This award follows a separate contract issued in February 2026, under which Ultra Maritime was tasked with developing the Next-Generation Acoustic Device Countermeasure (ADC) MK6, a system intended to enhance protection of naval platforms against evolving underwater threats.
Together, these developments reflect the U.S. Navy’s continued emphasis on advancing acoustic sensing technologies to address emerging challenges in undersea warfare.
Ultra Maritime continues to support global naval ASW operations through its portfolio of sonobuoy systems and associated technologies.
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