Northrop Grumman has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with South Korean defence prime Hanwha to produce components of the AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS).
Northrop Grumman noted in a 20 February statement that Hanwha will support the manufacturing of hardware components of the ALMDS for the Republic of Korea’s Mine Countermeasures Helicopter (KMCH) programme.
According to the company, the AN/AES-1 ALMDS detects, classifies and locates floating and near-surface moored mines. The system can be mounted onto a variety of helicopter platforms and can perform untethered day or night operations, which enables it to attain high area search rates. It can also provide target geo-location to support follow-on neutralisation of detected mines.
Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract in October 2023 by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to provide ALMDS solutions and technical support for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Design (EMD) phase of the KMCH program. The EMD phase is expected to be completed in 2027.
“Industry collaborations with companies such as Hanwha and KAI are key to Northrop Grumman’s approach to technology development across the globe,” said Janice Zilch, Vice President of Multi-Domain Command and Control Programs at Northrop Grumman.
The ALMDS will be mounted on the lower port side of the KMCH helicopter being developed by KAI and lowered into the water by the helicopter’s Carriage, Stream, Tow, and Recovery System (CSTRS).
Northrop Grumman also signed a MOU with South Korean aerospace company Genohco in August 2024 for the manufacture ALMDS hardware components.
Besides South Korea, Northrop Grumman has also delivered ALMDS units to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and US Navy.
by Jr Ng
