Northrop Grumman to demonstrate AQS-24B mine hunting system at 2018 Undersea Defence & Security Conference

The AQS-24B, the only deployed and operationally proven, high-speed mine hunting system in the world, with operational speeds of up to 18 knots, will be exhibited at the 2018 Undersea Defence & Security Conference in Portsmouth, U.K., March 20-22. It uses a high-resolution, side scan sonar for real time detection, localization and classification of mines at high coverage rates and a laser line scanner to provide precision optical identification. The AQS series minehunter is used both domestically and abroad and has logged thousands of hours of operation.

The AQS-24B is operated from both the MH-53E heavy lift helicopters from Helicopter Mine countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15) and from the Mine Hunting Unmanned Surface Vessels (MHU) in the Arabian Gulf. The MHU with the AQS-24 has been deployed and operated from both U.S. Navy ships, such as the recently decommissioned USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) and the USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3), as well as United Kingdom Royal Navy ships, such as the RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009).

AQS-24B Advanced Capabilities/Performance

• The only deployed and operationally proven, high-speed airborne mine hunting system in the world
• High-resolution, side scan sonar for real time detection, localization and classification of bottom and moored mines at high area coverage rates
• Laser line scanner provides precision optical identification of underwater mines and other objects of interest
• Simultaneous operation of Laser with sonar provides gap-filling capability and tactically advanced Target Detect and Target ID modes
• Thousands of tow hours logged from a variety of platforms

High Resolution Sonar

• High speed (18 Knot) operation
• Object detection and classification
• Target box cuing

Laser Line Scanner

• High speed operation
• Optical imagery for target I.D.
• Field proven/COTS based

The 2018 Undersea Defence & Security Conference takes place at 20-22 March in Portsmouth.

For details please visit Northrop Grumman official product page here.

Follow us on Twitter;  @navalstrategy76