Northrop Grumman to support US Navy USV minehunting
Northrop Grumman will support the US Navy’s integration of the AQS-24A Side Look Sonar System onto an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) under a new contract announced on 10 June. The integration will enhance the navy’s ability to look for bottom and volume mines remotely.
The repackaging of the sonar for USV use will build upon the proven capabilities of the Northrop Grumman-built AQS-24A.
The AQS-24A is an airborne minehunting search system, which – along with its predecessors, the AQS-24 and the AQS-14 - has been used by the US Navy for the past 28 years.
The AQS-24A is a high-speed minehunting system that is primarily towed from the MH-53E helicopter, but has been tested from USVs since 2002 by Northrop Grumman. The system's high-resolution side-scan sonar detects, localises and classifies both bottom and moored mines in real time at high area coverage rates.
Tom Jones, vice president of Undersea Systems, Northrop Grumman, said: ‘This is a great step forward for those who have been involved in USVs and minehunting for as many years as the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and Northrop Grumman. The results of this effort could apply to future USV programmes, both in the US Navy as well as the navies of potential coalition partners such as Australia.’
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