Northrop demos AQS-24B mine hunting system

Northrop Grumman has successfully demonstrated the AQS-24B mine hunting system’s ability to perform synthetic aperture sonar processing at 18 knots in real time in a US Navy field test, the company announced on 14 September. 

The test was conducted in May at the US Navy Central Command in Bahrain. According to the company, the system successfully executed the 12 missions it was tasked to perform during the test. 

The AQS-24B enhanced mine hunting sonar is designed to detect, classify and localise modern-day mine threats, with improved image resolution and real-time sonar processing.

During separate tactics development trials in Panama City, Florida, the AQS-24B achieved a record long single sortie tow duration of 16.25 hours from a surface ship.

Alan Lytle, vice president, undersea systems business unit, Northrop Grumman, said: ‘The AQS-24B represents a significant advancement of the US Navy’s mine hunting capability, on both the MH-53E helicopters as well as the Mine Hunting Unmanned Surface Vessels.

‘With the AQS-24B, Northrop Grumman and the navy have worked together to effectively advance the state of the art in undersea synthetic aperture sonar.’