US Navy’s AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) Achieves Initial Operational Capability

The first of its kind in mine warfare designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Jan. 12, 2017 – The U.S. Navy’s AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System, designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), has achieved Initial Operational Capability. ALMDS provides rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in sea lanes, littoral zones, confined straits, choke points and amphibious areas of operations.

 “With Initial Operational Capability, the ALMDS program has delivered a new and important capability to the Navy and to our nation—the first of its kind for mine warfare,” said Erik Maskelony, assistant program manager, Airborne Laser Mine Detection System, PEO LCS, Mine Warfare Program Office (PMS 495).

ALMDS provides rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in sea lanes, littoral zones, confined straits, choke points and amphibious areas of operations.

The ALMDS system features several capabilities that make it the first of its kind. It leverages a sensor pod to rapidly sweep the water using laser technology. The sensor pod can also be rapidly installed on a medium-lift helicopter and quickly removed after mission completion. This agile system’s detection speed and accuracy will significantly improve the U.S. Navy’s mine detection capabilities and help ensure the safety of service members around the world.

“Using forward motion of the aircraft, ALMDS’ pulsed laser light generates 3-D images of the near-surface volume to detect, classify and localize near-surface moored sea mines,” said Mark Skinner, vice president, directed energy, Northrop Grumman. “Highly accurate in day or night operations, the untethered ALMDS sensor conducts rapid wide-area searches with high accuracy.”

The target data generated by ALMDS is displayed on a console and stored for post-mission analysis. The Navy’s ALMDS installation aboard the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter is mounted on a Bomb Rack Unit 14, which is installed on the Carriage, Stream, Tow, and Recovery System. Northrop Grumman’s self-contained design allows the system to be installed on other aircraft types.

Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman successfully integrated and demonstrated ALMDS on a UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter. The first international sale of ALMDS occurred in 2012 to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), and the JMSDF has completed flight qualification testing of ALMDS on an MCH-101 helicopter.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) will showcase its global security capabilities, including C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), cyber security and logistics systems at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2017,  Feb. 19-23, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Northrop Grumman will be exhibiting at booth #02-A04.

“Northrop Grumman has a 40-year heritage in the Middle East and we have built our reputation on a legacy of trust and performance,” said Walid Abukhaled, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Middle East.  “Exhibiting at IDEX is an opportunity to demonstrate our market-leading security technologies, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our partners in the region, build new relationships, and highlight our expertise providing the innovation required to meet the region’s critical security challenges.”

Northrop Grumman’s exhibit will  include its wide range of exportable global security capabilities, including C4ISR end-to-end mission solutions and a full spectrum of cyber and logistics capabilities. It will feature the company’s industry-leading radar technologies including advanced fire control radar systems that upgrade fourth generation fighters by extending the life of the aircraft and increasing operational capability; the APR-39D(V)2 radar warning receiving/electronic warfare management system; and ground-based radars such as the Highly Adaptable Multi-Mission Radar, which is a highly adaptable, easily deployable, multimission radar that provides 360-degree coverage while mounted on a moving vehicle.

Northrop Grumman’s upgraded helicopter cockpit, which is derived from the U.S. Army’s UH-60V Black Hawk Program, will also be featured at IDEX. This solution allows customers to have an affordable, highly digital, integrated suite of avionics equipment.

The company will also highlight its Citadel Enterprise Battle Command System, which delivers an integrated C4I system to execute effective air and missile defense. The Citadel is built on a modern, open system using commercial standards that enable affordable systems integration of current force and future air and missile defense systems.

Other key Northrop Grumman products at IDEX are the Carry-On Link 16 Terminal, COLT, which gives warfighters the ability to communicate with other Link 16 assets in the fleet; the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, a revolutionary command-and-control system developed to deliver a single, unambiguous view of the battlespace; Remotec unmanned ground vehicles; and  a navigation and maritime solution which integrates communications, sensors and maritime domain awareness databases to provide maritime C3 solutions; and the AQS-24B, which provides underwater mine detection, classification and identification from an unmanned surface vessel (USV).

“The region, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are investing in the development of new industries to support a diversified, knowledge-based economy and Northrop Grumman is committed to this goal,” said Abukhaled.  “We support a variety of regional and global initiatives to ignite an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) – chief among them is our annual cyber security competition, Cyber Arabia.”

In 2016, Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation continued outreach efforts by contributing more than $19 million to support diverse STEM-related activities and groups such as: the Air Force Association CyberPatriot cybersecurity competition; the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy (in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association); the U.K. CyberCenturion cyber defence competition; Cyber Arabia; and the REC Foundation VEX Robotics competition which includes Australia, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. Cyber Arabia, an annual cybersecurity competition, plays a significant role in educating Kingdom of Saudi Arabia students about the importance of cybersecurity as well as encouraging them to pursue careers in the field. Most recently, Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation screened the documentary film “Into the Unknown” at schools and universities across the UAE. The documentary looks at the people who are building NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.