Northrop begins delivery of AQS-24C
Northrop Grumman has delivered the first two upgraded AQS-24C mine hunting systems to the US Navy, the company announced on 6 February.
The AQS-24C builds on the AQS-24B, which was introduced to the fleet in 2017 and is operated from the MH-53E helicopter and the mine hunting unit unmanned surface vehicle. The upgrade adds an in-stride volume search capability to the AQS-24B.
The AQS-24C has been delivered following shipboard contractor testing and government helicopter testing on the MH-53E helicopter.
Alan Lytle, VP, undersea systems, Northrop Grumman, said: ‘The AQS-24C is a cost effective upgrade to an existing system, providing long range volume search mine hunting while minimising development costs and providing great value to the US Navy customer. This new capability will keep sailors out of harm’s way and shorten the mine clearance timeline.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Joint Expeditionary Force launches AI protection net for undersea cables]()
Joint Expeditionary Force launches AI protection net for undersea cables
The UK-led system assesses potential threats before they result in undersea cable damage.
-
![Entire Black Sea “a contested maritime area”, says Commander of Estonian Navy]()
Entire Black Sea “a contested maritime area”, says Commander of Estonian Navy
The use of uncrewed vessels and vehicles has been crucial so far, but the Commander of the Estonian Navy warns against inflating their importance.
-
![Algeria signals a shift to domestic shipbuilding for Type 056 corvettes]()
Algeria signals a shift to domestic shipbuilding for Type 056 corvettes
The government recently commissioned a report on the viability of increased Algerian shipbuilding.
-
![US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator]()
US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator
The latest of the Flight III Arleigh Burke vessels has been named for a former US Senator and Vietnam veteran.
-
![Turkey begins steel-cutting on MUGEM and MiLDEN vessels]()
Turkey begins steel-cutting on MUGEM and MiLDEN vessels
The MUGEM, TF-2000 and MiLDEN programmes all aim to boost Turkey’s domestic shipbuilding prowess and its fleet.
