Aerostat deployable from sonobuoy launch container

A method comprising:

• launching a capsule from an aircraft to float in seawater with one or more sonobuoys;
• admitting the seawater into the capsule to mix with a reactant to generate a gas;
• inflating an aerostat with the gas to deploy the aerostat from the capsule and to lift a transmitter to a height above the capsule via a cable that tethers the aerostat with the capsule;
• and
• transmitting sonobuoy data from the one or more sonobuoys at the height above the capsule to the aircraft.

A system comprising:

• an aircraft;
• and
• a capsule configured to drop from the aircraft with one or more sonobuoys to float in seawater, to admit the seawater to mix with a reactant to generate a gas, to inflate an aerostat with the gas to deploy the aerostat from the capsule and to lift a transmitter to a height above the capsule via a cable that tethers the aerostat with the capsule, and to receive sonobuoy data from the one or more sonobuoys,
• wherein the transmitter on the aerostat is configured to transmit the sonobuoy data at the height above the capsule to the aircraft.