So what range do they release the weapon? I know, that answer is classified. But consider this:
1. The travel time from time of release to the time the weapon hits the water.
2. The target is moving.
3. The sonar on the torpedo has a limited range, so
4. The torpedo goes into a search pattern to acquire the target, but has only a given amount of fuel on board.
Now, if the aircraft crew still has a fix on the target via the sonobuoy pattern, and can guide the package, that may improve things a bit. That was the advantage that the Ikara had over the older RUR-5 ASROC. But it depends on maintaining that contact with the target.
Now given that a good submarine sonar operator will here a P-3 at low altitude coming in for a drop, the P-8 is doing the work at high altitude. (The operator would hear a TU-142 at altitude though)
Thanks.
Hmmm. An eeeevil person would scatter thousands of buoys across the sea that would broadcast the sound of a low P-3 at random...