The advantages of large numbers of low-cost, air-deployed ocean property sensors have been recognized for decades, as shown by the use of sonobuoys and Air-eXpendable BathyThermographs (AXBTs) in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). The MRV Systems ALAMO-2 retains many of the advantages of that concept, but provides greater persistence, does not require a patrol aircraft nearby for data telemetry, and operates at a lower-cost per ocean profile than a typical sonobuoy or AXBT. The concept of operation is “launch once, profile many times”, and can be deployed from Maritime Patrol and ASW aircraft. ALAMO-2 is an enhancement of MRV’s commercially proven A-sized ALAMO float, which has operated in conditions ranging from hurricanes to ice-covered Arctic seas. Our technology allows the Navy to monitor ocean temperature, salinity, and sound-velocity from the surface to 1500 feet, over periods of weeks or months. The addition of sensors for diffuse optical attenuation and acoustic ambient noise measurements, will improve the Navy's understanding of ocean conditions to improve ocean modeling, sonar performance prediction, and increase maritime domain awareness.
