AN/ALQ-220 Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep

The AN/ALQ-220 Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep was designed to provide organic, high speed magnetic/acoustic influence minesweeping capability where minehunting is not feasible (adverse environmental conditions), where mines are undetectable (buried), and avoidance of the area is not an option. The OASIS system is a towed Minesweeping System that has been intended to be deployed from specially configured MH-60S helicopters or surface craft in support of the Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) and the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The system consists of a towed body, a magnetic/acoustic influence capability, a control/monitoring system under software control and interfaces to the helicopter Carriage, Stream, Tow, and Recovery System and the Common Console.

As of February 2003 the program was currently in the SD&D phase where three engineering development models (EDMs) were developed for test and evaluation. Following the planned Milestone C program decision for Full Rate Production in FY06, a total of 44 OASIS systems were expected be produced to meet the inventory requirement over a five-year period. It was also hoped that there would be an initial operation capability by FY08