Expendable sonobuoy flight kit with aerodynamically assisted sonobuoy separation

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an expendable flight kit attachable to a sonobuoy for making use of said sonobuoy as a central structural load-bearing component of a flying assembly, the kit comprising rigid aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion system; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators operable for moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the fight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from the GPS receiver and the attitude and airspeed sensors, the fight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators, the flying assembly operable to be launched from a ship; the flight control system operable for separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated set of co-ordinates, wherein after separation of the sonobuoy from the flight kit, both the sonobuoy and the flight kit fall into the water.

1 . An expendable flight kit attachable to a sonobuoy for making use of said sonobuoy as a central structural load-bearing component of a flying assembly, the kit comprising rigid aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion system; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators operable for moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the fight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from the GPS receiver and the attitude and airspeed sensors, the fight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators, the flying assembly operable to be launched from a ship; the flight control system operable for separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated set of co-ordinates, wherein after separation of the sonobuoy from the flight kit, both the sonobuoy and the flight kit fall into the water.  
   
   
       2 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a conventional rigid wing configuration, having a main wing with a stabilizing surface aft of it.  
   
   
       3 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a canard rigid wing configuration, having a main wing with a stabilizing surface ahead of it.  
   
   
       4 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a tandem rigid wing configuration, having two lifting surfaces of approximately equal size.  
   
   
       5 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a tailless rigid wing configuration, having a main wing and no additional surfaces to provide longitudinal stability.  
   
   
       6 . The flight kit recited in  claim 5  wherein the tailless rigid wing configuration is a rigid flying wing configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a three-surface rigid wing configuration, having a main wing with a stabilizing surface ahead of the main wing, and an additional stabilizing surface aft of the main wing.  
   
   
       8 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a biplane rigid wing configuration, having two wings wherein one wing is placed approximately above the other wing.  
   
   
       9 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a rigid diamond wing configuration, having two wings, one placed ahead of the other, wherein the tips of the forward wings are connected to the tips of the aft wing.  
   
   
       10 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the aerodynamic surfaces are of a rigid ring wing configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the propulsion system includes an electric motor and an onboard source of electrical power.  
   
   
       12 . The flight kit recited in  claim 11  wherein the onboard source of electrical power includes a battery.  
   
   
       13 . The flight kit recited in  claim 11  wherein the onboard source of electrical power includes a fuel cell.  
   
   
       14 . The flight kit recited in  claim 11  wherein onboard source of electrical power is a fuel-powered generator.  
   
   
       15 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the propulsion system includes a propeller, a fan or a ducted fan.  
   
   
       16 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the propulsion system includes more than one propeller or fan or ducted fan.  
   
   
       17 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the propulsion system includes a fuel-burning engine and its associated fuel tank.  
   
   
       18 . The flight kit recited in  claim 17  wherein the fuel-burning engine is an internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       19 . The flight kit recited in  claim 17  wherein the fuel-burning engine is a turbine engine.  
   
   
       20 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the propulsion system includes a rocket.  
   
   
       21 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the flight control system is operable to communicate using a radio link with a control station located on a ship.  
   
   
       22 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the flight control system is operable to communicate using a radio link with a control station located on land.  
   
   
       23 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the flight control system is operable to communicate using a radio link with a control station located aboard a manned aircraft.  
   
   
       24 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  further comprising a wired electrical link for transferring the mission parameters to the flight control system.  
   
   
       25 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  further comprising an optical link to transfer the mission parameters to the flight control system.  
   
   
       26 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the flight control system includes a magnetometer or magnetic compass for determining magnetic heading.  
   
   
       27 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the flight control system includes an inertial navigation system.  
   
   
       28 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the GPS receiver has been removed.  
   
   
       29 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein an alternative satellite navigation system receiver is used in addition to the GPS receiver.  
   
   
       30 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein navigational information is provided to the flight control system from a ship or land or aircraft based RF transmitter.  
   
   
       31 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the sonobuoy is an unmodified naval A-size sonobuoy.  
   
   
       32 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the sonobuoy is a standard naval sonobuoy other than an unmodified naval A-size sonobuoy.  
   
   
       33 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the sonobuoy is a modified sonobuoy or custom sonobuoy.  
   
   
       34 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein more than one sonobuoy is used as structural load-bearing components of a flying assembly.  
   
   
       35 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  wherein the flight kit attaches to and makes use of an alternative sonobuoy-shaped item instead of a sonobuoy as the central structural load-bearing component of the flying assembly.  
   
   
       36 . The flight kit recited in  claim 35  wherein the alternative sonobuoy-shaped component contains a radio relay capable of re-transmitting signals from one or more sonobuoys that are in the water to a receiving site that is over-the-horizon from the sonobuoys.  
   
   
       37 . The flight kit recited in  claim 35  wherein a portion of the alternative sonobuoy-shaped item is occupied by additional batteries or fuel.  
   
   
       38 . The flight kit recited in  claim 35  wherein the alternative sonobuoy-shaped item contains a chemical sensor or biological agent sensor.  
   
   
       39 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  further comprising a triggering mechanism operable under the action of aerodynamic lift loads on the wings to release the sonobuoy from the flight kit.  
   
   
       40 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a triggering mechanism operable under the action of aerodynamic lift loads on the wings to assist in releasing the sonobuoy from the flight kit.  
   
   
       41 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  further comprising a pre-loaded spring mechanism for separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit.  
   
   
       42 . The flight kit recited in  claim 1  further comprising an active mechanism controlled by the flight control system for triggering, achieving or assisting separation of the sonobuoy from the flight kit.  
   
   
       43 . An expendable flight kit, which attaches to an unmodified A-size naval sonobuoy and makes use of said unmodified A-size naval sonobuoy as the central structural load-bearing component of a flying assembly, comprising: aerodynamic surfaces for lift and stability, said aerodynamic surfaces being in a rigid-winged tailless configuration; a method of propulsion that includes an electric motor, a battery and a propeller; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control actuators capable of moving control surfaces in response to control signals, said control actuators consisting of servomotors; a flight control system capable of receiving mission parameters, including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, through a wireless link and autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from a GPS receiver and attitude sensors and airspeed sensors, and capable of sending control signals to control surfaces actuators; a method for said flying assembly to be launched from a ship; a method of separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit components while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated set of geographic co-ordinates, said method of separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit including the use of aerodynamic lift loads on the wings to release the sonobuoy from the other components; and wherein after separation of the sonobuoy from the flight kit, both the sonobuoy and the flight kit components fall into the water.  
   
   
       44 . The flight kit as recited in  claim 43 , additionally including a method for said flying assembly to be launched from land.  
   
   
       45 . The flight kit as recited in  claim 43 , additionally including a method for said flying assembly to be launched from an aircraft.  
   
   
       46 . The flight kit recited in  claim 43  wherein the mission parameters may be transferred to the flight control system over a wired electrical link.  
   
   
       47 . An expendable flight kit, which attaches to a naval sonobuoy and makes use of said naval sonobuoy as a structural component of a flying assembly, comprising: rigid aerodynamic surfaces for lift and stability; a method of propulsion that includes an electric motor, a battery and a propeller; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control actuators capable of moving control surfaces in response to control signals, said control actuators consisting of servomotors; a flight control system capable of receiving mission parameters, including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, through a wireless link and autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from a GPS receiver and attitude sensors and airspeed sensors, and capable of sending control signals to control surfaces actuators; and a method for said flying assembly to be launched from a ship.  
   
   
       48 . A flying sonobuoy vehicle arrangement, comprising: 
 a first flying vehicle assembly including a sonobuoy, a first expendable flight kit attached to the sonobuoy, the first expendable flight kit including aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion unit; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the first flying vehicle using information from the GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators,    a second flying vehicle assembly including a sonobuoy-shaped item instead of a sonobuoy, a second expendable flight kit identical to the first expendable flight kit and attachable to the sonobuoy-shaped-item,    both the first flying vehicle assembly and the second flying vehicle assembly being launchable from a ship;    the flight control system of the first flight kit being operable for separating the first flight kit from the sonobuoy while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated target,    the flight control system of the second flight kit being operable for separating the second flight kit from the sonobuoy-shaped item,    wherein after separation of the sonobuoy and the sonobuoy-shaped item from the corresponding first and second flight kits, both the sonobuoy, the sonobuoy-shaped item and the corresponding first and second flight kits fall into the water.    
   
   
       49 . An arrangement as defined in  claim 48 , the sonobuoy-shaped item including a radio relay capable of re-transmitting signals from one or more sonobuoys that are in the water to a receiving site that is over-the-horizon from the sonobuoys.  
   
   
       50 . A sonobuoy communications system, comprising: 
 a plurality of sonobuoys of the same size and shape, at least one radio relay unit, the radio relay unit having externally approximately the same size and shape as one of the sonobuoys;    a plurality of expendable flight kits, each attachable to a corresponding one of the sonobuoys or the at least one radio relay unit,    each flight kit including at least one rigid aerodynamic surface to provide lift and stability; a propulsion unit; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system including attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the sonobuoys or the at least one radio relay unit in flight, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to the control surface actuators for controlling the surface actuators,    each of the sonobuoys being arranged to be assembled with a corresponding one of the expendable flight kits to be launched as an assembly into flight from a ship, each flight control system being operable for separating each sonobuoy from the corresponding flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a corresponding target, wherein after separation both the sonobuoy and the flight kit fall into the water;    the at least one radio relay unit being arranged to be assembled with a corresponding one of the expendable flight kits to be launched as an assembly into flight from a ship, the corresponding flight control system being operable controlling the radio relay unit according to the deployment coordinates and the designated targets of the plurality of sonobuoys.    
   
   
       51 . A system as defined in  claim 50 , the radio relay unit including additional batteries or fuel.  
   
   
       52 . A flying vehicle assembly comprising a central structural load-bearing sonobuoy-shaped component, an expendable flight kit attachable to the sonobuoy-shaped component, the flight kit including aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion system; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from the GPS receiver and the attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators, the flying vehicle assembly launchable from a ship; the flight control system operable for separating the sonobuoy-shaped component from the flight kit while in flight near a pre-designated target, wherein after separation of the sonobuoy-shaped item from the flight kit, both the sonobuoy-shaped component and the flight kit fall into a body of water.  
   
   
       53 . A vehicle assembly as defined in  claim 53 , wherein the sonobuoy-shaped component contains a radio relay capable of re-transmitting signals from one or more sonobuoys that are in the body of water to a receiving site that is over-the-horizon from the sonobuoys.  
   
   
       54 . An installation for a sonobuoy-based deployment, comprising 
 a ship;    first and second flying vehicle assemblies located on the ship,    the first flying vehicle assembly including a sonobuoy, a first expendable flight kit attached to the sonobuoy, the first expendable flight kit including aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion unit; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the first flying vehicle using information from the GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators,    the second flying vehicle assembly including a sonobuoy-shaped item instead of a sonobuoy, a second expendable flight kit identical to the first expendable flight kit and attachable to the sonobuoy-shaped-item,    both the first flying vehicle assembly and the second flying vehicle assembly being launchable from the ship;    the flight control system of the first flight kit being operable for separating the first flight kit from the sonobuoy while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated target,    the flight control system of the second flight kit being operable for separating the second flight kit from the sonobuoy-shaped item,    wherein after separation of the sonobuoy and the sonobuoy-shaped item from the corresponding first and second flight kits, both the sonobuoy, the sonobuoy-shaped item and the corresponding first and second flight kits fall into the water.    
   
   
       55 . An installation as defined in  claim 55 , the sonobuoy-shaped item including a radio relay capable of re-transmitting signals from one or more sonobuoys that are in the water to a receiving site that is over-the-horizon from the sonobuoys.  
   
   
       56 . An expendable flight kit attachable to a sonobuoy for making use of said sonobuoy as a central structural load-bearing component, the kit comprising rigid aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion system; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators operable for moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system being operable for receiving mission parameters, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators, the flying assembly vehicle operable to be launched from a ship; the flight control system operable for separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated target, wherein after separation of the sonobuoy from the flight kit, both the sonobuoy and the flight kit fall into the water.  
   
   
       57 . A flying vehicle assembly comprising a central structural load-bearing sonobuoy-shaped component, the central structural load-bearing sonobuoy-shaped component containing a radio relay, a chemical sensor, a biological warfare sensor or a sonobuoy, an expendable flight kit attachable to the sonobuoy-shaped component, the flight kit including aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion system; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from the GPS receiver and the attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators, the flying vehicle assembly launchable from a ship; the flight control system operable for separating the sonobuoy-shaped component from the flight kit while in flight near a pre-designated target, wherein after separation of the sonobuoy-shaped component from the flight kit, both the sonobuoy-shaped component and the flight kit fall into a body of water.  
   
   
       58 . A flying sonobuoy vehicle assembly comprising a sonobuoy, an expendable flight kit attachable to the sonobuoy, the kit including at least a pair of rigid aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion unit; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system including attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from a GPS receiver, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the surface actuators; the flying vehicle assembly launchable from a ship; the flight control system operable for separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated set of geographic co-ordinates, wherein after separation of the sonobuoy from the flight kit, both the sonobuoy and the flight kit fall into the water.  
   
   
       59 . A sonobuoy communications system, comprising: 
 a plurality of sonobuoys of the same size and shape, at least one radio relay unit, the radio relay unit having externally approximately the same size and shape as one of the sonobuoys;    a plurality of expendable flight kits, each attachable to a corresponding one of the sonobuoys or the at least one radio relay unit,    each flight kit including at least one rigid aerodynamic surface to provide lift and stability; a propulsion unit; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system including attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the sonobuoys or the at least one radio relay unit in flight, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to the control surface actuators for controlling the surface actuators,    each of the sonobuoys being arranged to be assembled with a corresponding one of the expendable flight kits to be launched as an assembly into flight from a location on land, each flight control system being operable for separating each sonobuoy from the corresponding flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a corresponding target, wherein after separation both the sonobuoy and the flight kit fall into the water;    the at least one radio relay unit being arranged to be assembled with a corresponding one of the expendable flight kits to be launched as an assembly into flight from the location on land, the corresponding flight control system being operable controlling the radio relay unit according to the deployment coordinates and the designated targets of the plurality of sonobuoys.    
   
   
       60 . The system in  claim 59 , wherein the location on land is a fixed location.  
   
   
       61 . The system in  claim 59 , wherein the location on land is a movable location.  
   
   
       62 . An installation for the delivery of a sonobuoy-shaped item, comprising 
 a ship;    first and second and flying vehicle assemblies located on the ship,    the first flying vehicle assembly including a sonobuoy, a first expendable flight kit attached to the sonobuoy, the first expendable flight kit including aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion unit; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including delivery co-ordinates for a sonobuoy or sonobuoy-shaped item, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the first flying vehicle using information from the GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators,    the second flying vehicle assembly including a sonobuoy-shaped item instead of a sonobuoy, a second expendable flight kit identical to the first expendable flight kit and attachable to the sonobuoy-shaped-item,    the first flying vehicle assembly and the second flying vehicle assembly being launchable from the ship;    the flight control system of the first flight kit being operable for separating the first flight kit from the sonobuoy while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated location,    the second control system of the second flight kit being operable for separating the second flight kit from the sonobuoy-shaped item while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated delivery location,    the flight control system of the second flight kit being operable for separating the second flight kit from the sonobuoy-shaped item,    wherein after separation of the second flight kit from the sonobuoy-shaped item from the corresponding second flight kits, both the sonobuoy-shaped item and the second flight kit fall.    
   
   
       63 . The installation in  claim 62 , wherein the sonobuoy-shaped item is a sonobuoy-shaped container that contains one or more items that are useful for military or intelligence-gathering personnel, and are of an acceptable size to fit within a sonobuoy-shaped container.  
   
   
       64 . The installation in  claim 62 , wherein the sonobuoy-shaped item is an object that is useful to military or intelligence-gathering personnel.  
   
   
       65 . A sonobuoy communications system, comprising: 
 a plurality of sonobuoys of the same size and shape, at least one radio relay unit, the radio relay unit having externally approximately the same size and shape as one of the sonobuoys;    a plurality of expendable flight kits, each attachable to a corresponding one of the sonobuoys or the at least one radio relay unit,    each flight kit including at least one rigid aerodynamic surface to provide lift and stability; a propulsion unit; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the sonobuoys or the at least one radio relay unit in flight, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to the control surface actuators for controlling the surface actuators,    each of the sonobuoys being arranged to be assembled with a corresponding one of the expendable flight kits to be launched as an assembly into flight from a ship, each flight control system being operable for separating each sonobuoy from the corresponding flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a corresponding target, wherein after separation both the sonobuoy and the flight kit fall into the water;    the at least one radio relay unit being arranged to be assembled with a corresponding one of the expendable flight kits to be launched as an assembly into flight from a ship, the corresponding flight control system being operable controlling the radio relay unit according to the deployment coordinates and the designated targets of the plurality of sonobuoys.    
   
   
       66 . A method of enabling the delivery of an object, that would otherwise not have been shaped similar to a sonobuoy, by constructing the object such that it is outwardly structurally similar to a sonobuoy such that it is operable to be transported in flight by flight kits that are operable to attach to a sonobuoy and to deploy sonobuoys at a designated geographic location, the method including: 
 a step of providing a flight kit that is operable to deploy sonobuoys, the flight kit including aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift and stability; a propulsion system; a plurality of control surfaces; a plurality of control surface actuators capable of moving the control surfaces in response to control signals; a flight control system, the flight control system including a GPS receiver and attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being capable of receiving mission parameters including sonobuoy deployment co-ordinates, the flight control system being operable for autonomously navigating and steering the vehicle in flight using information from the GPS receiver and the attitude and airspeed sensors, the flight control system being operable for sending control signals to control the control surface actuators, the flying vehicle assembly launchable from a ship or from a location on land; the flight control system operable for separating the sonobuoy from the flight kit while in flight at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated set of co-ordinates,    a step of manufacturing an object such that it is outwardly structurally similar to the sonobuoy, with approximately the same size and shape as the sonobuoy, and such that it is operable to be assembled with the flight kit in the same manner as a sonobuoy,    a subsequent step of arranging the object that is outwardly structurally similar to a sonobuoy to be assembled with the flight kit to be launched as an assembly into flight from a ship or from a location on land,    a subsequent step of launching the assembly into flight,    a subsequent step of the flight control system separating the object that is outwardly structurally similar to sonobuoy from the flight kit at an acceptable proximity to a pre-designated set of co-ordinates,    a subsequent step of the object that is outwardly structurally similar to a sonobuoy and the flight kit falling to water or to land.