ITT Corporation recently completed initial qualification testing on a new, environmentally friendly Sonobuoy Launching System (SLS), a high-tech ejection system carried on the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The SLS enables aircraft conducting anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions to release more sonobuoys.

“As the aircraft deploy sonobuoys in flight, the precision and reliability of the SLS are vital to our customer’s mission,” said Jim Barber, Vice President and General Manager of ITT’s Integrated Structures business. “Completing initial qualification testing has reinforced ITT’s commitment to developing an enhanced system that aircraft operators can depend on now and in the future.”

The improved design of the SLS eliminates the use of electro-explosive cartridges that had to be discarded and replaced after every single release.