The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman $40 million for the 36-month engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) of an airborne laser mine detection system (ALMDS).
Viewed as the replacement for the recently decommissioned Kaman Magic Lantern airborne mine detection system, an ALMDS production decision is expected before the end of 2004.
The contract represents a significant win for Northrop Grumman's airborne ground surveillance and battle management systems business. Considered a dark horse in the mine-warfare contest, the Northrop Grumman unit was selected over a Lockheed Martin/ Kaman Aerospace team with more minehunting experience.
The ALMDS will be mounted in a Sikorsky SH-60-class helicopter. The laser radar, made by Northrop Grumman's team-mate Arete Associates, will be able to scan a wide swathe of ocean, generating a topographic view of the seabed with a computer-enhanced image of the shapes, sizes and locations of mines. The company says the sensor can locate and identify mines accurately in a single pass over a target area.
The laser radar - or light detection and ranging (LIDAR)system - will be pod mounted on the helicopter which will house a workstation for an ALMDS operator. In addition to systems integration responsibility, Northrop Grumman will produce the pod and workstation.
The contract includes the delivery of three ALMDS pods for testing. It is unclear how many of the mine countermeasures devices will be fielded. Northrop Grumman says ALMDS is effective for deep water and shallow water operations. They expect foreign military sales to follow.
Magic Lantern, an imaging LIDAR system, detected floating and moored sea mines in areas supposedly cleared by other means. Several years ago, a fly-off was conducted between Magic Lantern and the Lockheed Martin ATD-111, another LIDAR system, with inconclusive results. Kaman and Lockheed Martin later elected to team for ALMDS.
Source: Flight International
