A Virginia-based company has delivered the first Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) sensor pod...
A Virginia-based company has delivered the first Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) sensor pod to South Korea. Northrop Grumman’s system is expected to advance Seoul’s mine detection solutions.
Northrop claims that the ALMDS has a proven and effective capability that provides rapid detection and classification of mines in coastal waters, and is operated today by the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Accurate target geolocation
ALMDS is capable of untethered day or night operations, allowing it to attain high area search rates, and provide users accurate target geolocation to support the neutralization of detected mines from a variety of helicopter platforms.
In 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman to supply cutting-edge ALMDS technology. The American defense giant will also provide comprehensive technical support for the engineering, manufacturing and design phase of the Republic of Korea’s Korean Mine Countermeasures Helicopter (KMCH) program.
Advancing defense capabilities together with Korean industry
“ALMDS exemplifies Northrop Grumman’s ability to deliver trusted technology for critical missions, consistently performing where it matters most,” said Janice Zilch, vice president, multi-domain command and control programs, Northrop Grumman.
“Our collaboration with KAI shows our commitment to advancing defense capabilities together with Korean industry and delivering vital capabilities, ensuring the safety and security of our allies.”
ALMDS detects, classifies and locates mines
Manufactured in the United States, Northrop Grumman’s AN/AES-1 ALMDS detects, classifies and locates floating and near-surface moored mines.
Northrop Grumman has delivered 24 ALMDS units to the U.S. Navy and four units to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, demonstrating Northrop Grumman’s leadership in discriminating technology as a cutting-edge solution for a complex challenge.
The company revealed that ALMDS uses pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers housed in an external equipment pod to image the entire near-surface volume potentially containing mines. ALMDS is capable of day or night operations without stopping to stream out or recover equipment and without towing any equipment in the water.
ALMDS can conduct wide-area assessment of mine threats
With untethered operations, it can attain high area search rates. This design uses the forward motion of the aircraft to generate image data negating the requirement for complex scanning mechanisms and ensuring high system reliability. ALMDS also provides accurate target geo-location to support follow on neutralization of the detected mines, according to a press release.
In operations, the ALMDS can be integrated into the MH-60S helicopter to provide a rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in littoral zones, confined straits, choke points and amphibious objective areas for Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups (CSG/ESG). ALMDS will be embarked as part of the mine countermeasures (MCM) mission package on the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
