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New Mine Warfare Laser Technology Approved For Production

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050622-05
Release Date: 6/22/2005 11:36:00 AM

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy’s AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), the first new technology to be applied to mine warfare since the advent of sonar, received approval June 15 for low-rate initial production from Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RD&A) John Young.

Young approved the ALMDS following a Milestone C review. This decision clears the way for a low-rate production ALMDS for integration aboard U.S. Navy H-60-series helicopters.

“The ALMDS represent the first new technology to be applied to mine warfare since the advent of sonar. It gives the naval warfighter the ability to locate sea mines at or near the surface and cover large areas more rapidly than previously possible," said Rear Adm. William E. Landay III, program executive officer (PEO) for Littoral and Mine Warfare (LMW). "This new capability would not be possible without the strong leadership of our resource sponsor on (Chief of Naval Operations Staff) N75, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, and Northrop Grumman, our industry partner.”

The ALMDS uses a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) blue-green laser to locate sea mines hidden beneath the water’s surface. Helicopter-borne ALMDS systems will cover large areas of ocean, working in concert with towed sonar systems deployed from helicopters or surface vessels. The ALMDS will detect, localize and classify near-surface moored and floating sea mines.

“ALMDS is unencumbered by the inherent limitations of towing bulky gear in the water." said Gary Humes, Mine Warfare program manager. "It can therefore attain high area search rates and image the entire near-surface volume without stopping to recover equipment."

The MH-60S helicopter carrying the ALMDS will be launched from the new Littoral Combat Ship. ALMDS is one of five airborne mine countermeasure systems developed under the PEO LMW. These systems will provide aircraft carrier strike groups and expeditionary strike groups with an organic mine hunting and reconnaissance capability.

Northrop Grumman, Integrated Systems Division, Melbourne, Fla., developed the ALMDS. A total of 57 units are planned for production between 2005 and 2011. The overall program is valued at $200 million. The ALMDS Program was recently nominated for Aviation Week’s Program Excellence Award. This prestigious award, to be presented in November, recognizes the complexity and demand for the highest standards in the defense and aerospace industry program leadership.