Towed Array Systems

TB-16/BQ
Towed Array
Lockheed Martin participated
in the development of the
TB-16 series of “towed bodies”
in the early 1970s and began
production of TB-16 towed
arrays in 1975. Since then,
more than 300 arrays have
been delivered to the
U.S. Navy.
gpd.sunwayinfo.com.cn
Starboard elongated “bump” contains the
TB-16/BQ towed array.
TB-16 arrays have been installed on SSN 637,
SSN 688, Seawolf and Trident class submarines. The TB-16
is known as a “fat-line” array due to its more than three-inch
diameter. When stowed, it is housed in a tube that runs fore
and aft along the ship’s hull. The tube is visible as an elongated
“bump” when the submarine is on the surface.
Throughout the long service life of the TB-16,
Lockheed Martin has initiated several improvement programs
for the array. One such program was the TB-16B, which greatly
reduced the self-noise of the array. This version has been in
production since 1987. A digital version of the array, the
TB-16D, has also been delivered to the fleet. It is designed
to be compatible with the AN/BQQ-5D sonar system and
the AN/BSY-1 and AN/BSY-2 combat control systems. In
December 1989, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract
for the production of 69 TB-16E systems. In March 2003,
Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract for the production
of TB-16G systems.