Northrop Grumman has made a significant advancement in enhancing South Korea’s naval capabilities by supplying the nation’s first Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). This development is part of a broader initiative to bolster the country’s proficiency in locating and neutralizing naval mines.
This delivery aligns with a 2023 agreement between Northrop Grumman and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), focusing on modernizing Seoul’s Korean Mine Countermeasures Helicopter program with innovative American mine detection technologies. The partnership emphasizes not only the provision of the ALMDS system but also engineering and design support to seamlessly integrate this advanced technology into the South Korean naval fleet.
Once fully operational, the new rotary-wing helicopters equipped with ALMDS will play a critical role in supporting minehunting vessels, enhancing operations in both shallow coastal waters and deeper maritime environments.
The AN/AES-1 ALMDS deployed by Northrop Grumman utilizes sophisticated lasers and sensors to detect and locate mines that might be floating or positioned near the water’s surface. Notably, the system exhibits versatile capabilities, functioning effectively during both day and night operations without the need to be connected to a ship. This allows for comprehensive scanning of extensive coastal regions, providing precise coordinates that aid helicopters in neutralizing identified threats.
This advanced technology has already been successfully integrated into the operations of the US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, significantly improving the speed and accuracy with which crews can identify underwater mines. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered a total of 24 systems to the US Navy and four to Japan.
In a statement, Janice Zilch, vice president of multi-domain command and control programs at Northrop Grumman, emphasized the importance of the ALMDS technology in critical defense operations. She remarked on the collaboration with KAI as a demonstration of Northrop’s ongoing commitment to enhancing defense capabilities alongside Korean industry, ultimately ensuring the safety and security of allied nations.
