First AMCM-equipped MCH-101 delivered to Japan
Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has delivered the first MCH-101 helicopter with Airborne Mine Counter Measures (AMCM) to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF).
The KHI MCH-101 helicopter is a version of the AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter built under licence by KHI for the JMSDF.
The aircraft is fitted with a Northrop Grumman AN/AQS-24A airborne mine hunting system and a Northrop Grumman AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS).
The AN/AQS-24A is a high speed airborne mine hunting system with a high-resolution side-scan sonar for real-time detection, localisation and classification of bottom and moored mines.
The AN/AES-1 ALMDS uses pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers to image the near-surface volume that may contain mines. This pod is mounted on the helicopter's port weapon carrier and data is displayed on the cabin mission console.
Together these two systems provide the helicopter with a surface-to-bottom mine detection capability.
AgustaWestland is providing technical support for the KHI MCH-101 programme. KHI is responsible for leading the design and integration of the AN/AQS-24A carriage, deploy, tow and recovery system installed in the cabin. AgustaWestland modified the automatic flight control system of the aircraft to perform towing patterns with the AN/AQS-24A.
The delivered helicopter will now undergo evaluation trials with the 51st Experimental Squadron before entering operational service in 2016.
The first AMCM configured is the eighth of 13 AW101s that KHI is building for the JMSDF. The eight aircraft delivered to date include six MCH-101s and two CH-101s for Antarctic research activities.
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