Mon, Oct 18, 2010
Boost To Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare
Two contracts totaling $115.7 million have been awarded to
Raytheon for the AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS), the
primary undersea warfare sensor for the U.S. Navy's MH-60R
multimission helicopter. The contracts were awarded by Naval Air
Systems Command and Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Strategic
Acquisition.
ALFS provides critical undersea warfare mission support
capabilities, including submarine detection, tracking,
localization, classification, acoustic intercept, underwater
communication and environmental data collection.
Under the first contract, valued at $59.7 million, Raytheon
Integrated Defense Systems will manufacture, integrate, test and
deliver ALFS systems. The company will also provide data and
weapons replaceable assemblies for systems under test as well as
helicopter maintenance trainer assets. The second contract, for $56
million, provides for spares for fleet-deployed systems.
"ALFS provides an essential capability, the centerpiece of our
airborne anti-submarine warfare mission," said U.S. Navy Rear
Admiral Steven R. Eastburg, program executive officer, Air ASW,
Assault & Special Mission. "Working in tandem with our other
battlegroup assets, the versatility and effectiveness of ALFS
delivers our first line of defense against the threat of enemy
submarines."
MH-60R File Photo
The system's performance and capabilities were tested and proved
during two recent U.S. Navy undersea warfare exercises. The first
was conducted by the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group in the
Western Pacific Ocean. ALFS was deployed as the primary
anti-submarine warfare sensor onboard the MH-60R helicopter,
charged with defending the surface ships before the submarines
could come within range to launch an attack. According to Navy
officials, the carrier strike group successfully detected all
exercise submarines during the first deployment. The second
exercise is currently underway with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier
Strike Group.
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