Application Analysis and Development Trend of Foreign Airborne Magnetic Anomaly Detection Equipment

Currently, as the main non-acoustic submarine detection equipment, using an airborne magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) is one of the most reliable methods to detect, locate, identify, and track underwater submarines. The action distance of an airborne MAD has been greatly improved due to the rapid development of magnetic probe components, the magnetic compensation level, and magnetic target recognition technology; therefore, this equipment has been applied in local search and on-call anti-submarine operations. In this study, the technical performance and design characteristics of foreign advanced airborne magnetic anomaly detection equipment are analyzed regarding its application in supporting anti-submarine operations. Furthermore, the development trend of this technology is discussed, which indicates that the cooperation of the MAD performed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), manned aerial vehicles, and the MAD cluster will be the development focus.