US Navy’s AN/AQS-20C completes developmental testing
The US Navy’s AN/AQS-20C mine-hunting sonar system completed developmental testing at the US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), on 26 February 2019.
The AQS-20C is the next generation of the AN/AQS-20 system designed to be incorporated into the navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package.
During testing, the Raytheon-developed towed sonar sensor conducted 12 underway missions in various operational modes and at different depths at four separate NSWC PCD test ranges. The missions were conducted aboard the test vessel M/V Patriot. Developmental testing of the system validates that its design meets all technical specifications.
The sonar system consists of four sonar arrays: two side-looking arrays; a gap-filler sonar array; and a forward-looking sonar array providing simultaneous detection, localisation and classification of bottom mines, close-tethered moored mines and volume-moored mines. It delivers high-definition images of bottom mines, providing the operator with both range and contrast data that combine to form 3D image during post-mission analysis.
The AQS-20C will now be integrated with and deployed from the MCM USV, a long-endurance, semi-autonomous, diesel-powered, all-aluminium surface vessel that supports the employment of various MCM payloads.
The MCM USV can be launched and recovered by the LCS to provide minesweeping, mine-hunting and mine neutralisation capabilities. The MCM USV is currently undergoing developmental testing as a component of the Unmanned Influence Sweep System at the South Florida Test Facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Test results will now undergo scoring and performance assessment leading up to a final developmental testing report that is expected to be completed in the spring of 2019.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Malta takes delivery of new flagship
At a ceremony in Valetta, Italy's Cantiere Navale Vittoria delivered the new flagship of the Maltese armed forces.
-
Textron nets contract to develop mine countermeasure system that doesn't need towing
Removing the need to tow an array would allow mine countermeasure USVs to access previously hard-to-reach areas.
-
Japan commissions its second Taigei-class submarine
Japan has inducted its second Taigei-class submarine, amidst plans to boost counterstrike capabilities with new, longer-range missiles.
-
Second Brazilian Riachuelo-class submarine conducts pre-service testing
The second of four PROSUB conventional attack submarines has completed diving trials ahead of service entry with the Brazilian Navy later this year.
-
Argentina turns to local industry in naval modernisation push
Local companies will build a new landing ship and floating dock, modernise in-service corvettes and develop a naval surveillance radar.
-
The US Navy's 2024 budget request in five charts
In early March, the Biden administration submitted a proposal to Congress that would see the US DoD funded to the tune of $842 billion, around a quarter of which will go to the US Navy.