Countermeasures modification

Raytheon and US Naval Sea Systems Command have finalised an $11 million modification to an existing contract for the company's AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar systems. The modification brings the total value of the contract, originally awarded in September 2005, to $104.9 million.

Under the contract, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) will manufacture, test and deliver 11 AQS-20A sets and associated support equipment and engineering services. The contract also includes an option for 11 additional systems, services and support equipment for 2007.

AN/AQS-20A, a component of the Organic Mine Countermeasures family of systems, is the primary mine hunting system integrated into the US Navy's MH-60S airborne mine countermeasures helicopters.

According to Raytheon, AN/AQS-20A enables the detection, classification and localisation of bottom, close-tethered and volume mines. It is also the primary mine hunting mission system for the Littoral Combat Ship Flight 0.

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 and high-precision location information.