US Navy buys additional AN/AQS-20A Mine Hunting Sonar
The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon Company a $52 million contract for the low rate initial production of nine new AN/AQS-20A sonar mine detecting sets, spares and their accompanying kits.
The award represents the exercising of options under the Navy’s existing AN/AQS-20A contract with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, bringing the total contract value to $191 million and increasing the total number of systems ordered to 20.
AN/AQS-20A, a key component of the U.S. Navy’s organic mine countermeasures strategy, has been integrated into the MH-60S, MH-53E airborne mine countermeasures helicopter and the remote mine hunting system. It provides critical capabilities in support of mine-clearing operations in both deep-ocean and littoral waters by enabling the detection, classification and localization of bottom, close-tethered and volume mines.
The AN/AQS-20A system is towed undersea to scan the water in front and to the sides of the vehicle, as well as the sea bottom for anti-shipping mines. The system uses sonar and electro-optical sensors to provide high-resolution images of mines and mine-like objects, as well as high-precision location information.
AN/AQS-20A is modular, lightweight and produced under spiral development, enabling continuous improvement, serviceability and plug-and-play capability. Additionally, the system’s advanced technology combines with commercial off- the-shelf components to significantly reduce production costs and allows for easy upgrade and replacement of individual assembly parts. A significant benefit of AN/AQS-20A is its modularity, a capability that allows the Navy to operate the system across a variety of platforms.
Under the contract, Raytheon will deliver nine AN/AQS-20A sonar mine-detecting sets, seven installation kit electronics equipment packages and two remote minehunting system towed body modification kits. To date, the company has delivered 10 AN/AQS-20A systems to the Navy.
The system is currently undergoing technical evaluation as part of the Navy’s mine countermeasure operational testing - the final stage before official fleet deployment.
AN/AQS-20A engineering and support services will be performed at Raytheon IDS’ Maritime Mission Center, Portsmouth, R.I., and by Arete Associates, Tucson, Ariz.
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