Northrop to deliver five ALMDS pods to US Navy
Northrop Grumman will continue the production of AN/AES-1Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) under a new US Navy contract, the company said on 2 February.
This new production contract will see Northrop produce five ALMDS pod subsystems, support equipment, spares, and technical support.
The ALMDS, which is mounted on the MH-60S helicopter, can find and geo-locate mine-like objects. It does this by 3D imaging with pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers.
Doug Shaffer, director, electronic attack/maritime systems integration, Northrop Grumman, said: 'The airborne sensor has the capability to keep our sailors out of the minefield and we are producing it while reducing the per-pod price over previous buys that helps enable the navy to meet their cost targets.'
Under the Northrop Grumman ALMDS team, Areté Associates manufactures the receiver sensor assembly and Cutting Edge Optronics produces the laser transmitter. CPI Aerostructures makes the pod housing, Curtiss Wright Defense Solutions produces the central electronics chassis and Meggitt Defence Systems manufactures the environmental control system.
So far, Northrop has delivered a total of 12 ALMDS pods to the navy under four low-rate initial production contracts. It has also delivered four ALMDS pods to Japan, and these pods are undergoing tests and integration at present on the EH-101 helicopter.
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