Aircraft expendable instrument launch detector system

An aircraft expendable instrument launch system, comprising:

• an aircraft expendable instrument;
• a launch tube;
• a magnetic field generator positioned in the launch tube;
• a magnetic field detector positioned in the aircraft expendable instrument;
• and
• an electronics electrically coupled to the magnetic field detector, the electronics operable to detect a signal provided by the magnetic field detector upon detection of the magnetic field.

A method for detecting the launch of an aircraft expendable instrument using a magnetic field detector positioned in the aircraft expendable instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a magnetic field in a launch tube with a magnetic field generator;
• inserting the aircraft expendable instrument in the launch tube above the magnetic field;
• launching the aircraft expendable instrument via the launch tube;
• and
• detecting the magnetic field using an electronics electrically coupled to the magnetic field detector, the electronics operable to detect a signal provided by the magnetic field detector upon detection of the magnetic field.