US Navy completes testing of Q-20C
The US Navy has completed developmental testing of the Q-20C variant of the AN/AQS-20C towed mine-hunting sonar system, NAVSEA announced on 8 April.
The Q-20C variant features advanced acoustic and electro-optic sensing capabilities to detect, localise and classify bottom, close-tethered, moored and volume-moored mines. It includes improved capabilities, including the ability to search in multiple modes in the water column, which prepares the system to be integrated with its intended tow platform, the MCM unmanned surface vehicle (MCM USV) in 2020.
Recommendations from the test team will now be reviewed by the technical team for incorporation into the Q-20C for further evaluation.
The MCM USV is a long endurance, semi-autonomous, diesel-powered, all-aluminium surface craft that supports the deployments of various MCM payloads including Q-20C. It is part of the Littoral Combat Ship’s MCM mission package.
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