Observing surface currents and tracking events for search and rescue operations requires a small, highly portable surface drifter that must be capable of being deployed from airplanes, helicopters and boats. The drogue plane and antenna must be protected during ejection from aircraft, yet hit the water and quickly assume their proper configuration with drogue planes and antenna deployed. Clearwater has solved these problems with a innovative packaging and deployment systems. Drifter GPS locations are returned to the user by Iridium SMB. All of this is in a compact shape that is 36 in. long and less than 5 in. in diameter, the required sizing for an A-size sonobuoy tube.