WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th February, 2019) The US Navy's latest upgrade to its AQS-24B mine hunting system has completed its development phase, Northrop Grumman announced in a press release.
"Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully completed the development of the AQS-24C and delivered the first two systems to the US Navy," the release said on Wednesday. "The AQS-24C upgrade adds an in-stride volume search capability to the AQS-24B."
Northrop Grumman explained the AQS-24C builds on the AQS-24B that was introduced to the US fleet in 2017, which is operated from both the Sikorsky MH-53E Pave Low helicopter and the mine hunting unit unmanned surface vehicle platforms.
"The AQS-24C is a cost effective upgrade to an existing system, providing long range volume search mine hunting while minimizing development costs and providing great value to the US Navy customer," Northrop Grumman Undersea Systems Vice President Alan Lytle said in the release.
The AQS-24C systems recently completed shipboard contractor testing and government helicopter testing on the MH-53E platform. Now Northrop Grumman said it has started production to meet the fleet generated requirement for increased mine hunting capability.
