It's Now Also A Maritime Mine-Hunter

The MH-60 Sierra helicopter has a new mission – to detect, localize, and neutralize all sea-based mines in order to clear the path for the battle groups of today and of the future.

The Organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures (OAMCM) program will combine several new sensor and neutralization systems, which are being developed or redesigned to fit within the weight and space limitations of the MH-60S. The MH-60S in the OAMCM configuration is a critical aspect of the littoral combat ship in development to perform required organic minesweeping operational capabilities. Organic airborne mine countermeasures refers to the ability of carrier battle groups and expeditionary strike groups to maintain and deploy their own airborne mine countermeasures forces.

Currently, the US Navy is using the MH-53 helicopter to support its airborne mine countermeasures warfare missions by relying on forces to be deployed by C-5 Galaxy aircraft. In need of a system for a more rapid deployment of mine warfare capability that is lightweight, less expensive, more versatile, and consistent with the Chief of Naval Operation’s Master Helicopter Plan, the Navy has turned to the MH-60S.

"This program is designed to support the Helicopter Master Plan by both reducing the numbers of type aircraft currently in the fleet and by increasing the capability of the workhorse MH-60S," said Kevin Ransford, MH-60S Lead Test Engineer. "In addition, this capability may be used to outfit CV battle groups with a more tactically diverse helicopter squadron, one that can perform search and rescue, vertical replenishment, armed helicopter, and minesweeping missions. Prior to commencement of this program, these missions often required two or three different type-model-series of aircraft; the MH-60S will be designed to be completed with one."

The MH-60S OAMCM configuration consists of five new mission subsystems and three support subsystems, "which includes state of the art electro-optic technology for the detection of near surface mines," stated Ransford.

The five mission subsystems which will comprise the OAMCM MH-60S configuration will be the Airborne LASER Mine Detection System, the AN/AQS-20A Towed Sonar, the Organic Airborne Surface Influence Sweep system, the Airborne Mine Neutralization System and the Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System.

Airborne LASER Mine Detection System

This system is a non-towed system designed to be a quick response, large-area coverage system for detecting, classifying and localizing floating and near-surface moored sea mines. It will be a newly developed mission subsystem, however an experimental prototype of a system using similar technology has been flown on the SH-60B helicopter in the past.

AN/AQS-20A Towed Sonar

The AN/AQS-20A towed sonar is designed to be deployed from a hover and towed by a MH-60S to detect, localize, and classify bottom, close-tethered, and volume mines. AN/AQS-20A is a newly developed and technically advanced system based on lessons learned from the AN/AQS-14 towed sensor package.

Organic Airborne Surface Influence Sweep

The organic airborne surface influence sweep (OASIS) system is designed to deploy from a hovering helicopter and towed at high speeds in shallow water in support of limited mine clearance operations. It will conduct minesweeping missions through the use of magnetic and acoustic sources.

Airborne Mine Neutralization System

The airborne mine neutralization system (AMNS) is a non-towed mine neutralization system designed to explosively neutralize unburied bottom and moored sea mines. Originally developed for use on the MH-53E, this neutralization system uses sonar and video sensors enclosed in a torpedo-shaped body allowing the aircraft sensor operator to guide the sensor to the body and identify the target prior to operator commanded detonation of the torpedo warhead and mine.

Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System

Designed to be a rapid and safe method of near surface mine neutralization, this system fires a supercavitating projectile from a gun aboard a hovering helicopter using laser targeting and fire control algorithms intended to provide a one shot-one kill capability. This system will use the Bushmaster II MK 44 cannon currently fielded on the United States Marine Corps AAAV and LPD. This system will include its own special cabin mounting system. All other system components, including the targeting system and ammunition, will be newly developed.

The three support subsystems required for full implementation and integration of the AMCM configured MH-60S helicopter are the Carriage, Stream, Tow and Recovery System (CSTRS), the Common Console, and a tow point with accompanying airframe structure modifications. All support subsystems are currently in development and flight test.

Carriage, Stream, Tow and Recovery System

The carriage, stream, tow and recovery system include a winch and an external carriage/docking mechanism. It will carry and deploy the airborne LASER mine detection system, AN/AQS-20A towed sonar, organic airborne surface influence sweep, and airborne mine neutralization system. Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Johnstown, Pa, is developing the CSTRS.

Common Console

The common console is designed for a sensor operator located in the aircraft cabin to control, display, and record information for all five-mission subsystems as well as communicates with the aircraft glass cockpit using MIL-STD-1553B technology. The common console also provides operational control of the winch apparatus required for the AN/AQS-20 and OASIS tow missions and AMNS sensor deployment. This system is being developed by Lockheed Martin Federal Systems, Owego, NY.

Tow Point

The tow point installation is an extensive structural modification to the baseline of the MH-60S airframe. This modification will allow the airframe to safely and efficiently absorb expected loads during the tow missions. This tow point is located on the lower side of the fuselage aft of the main internal fuel tank location. In addition to the tow point modification, fittings in the cabin will be incorporated to support the CSTRS and common console, as well as provisions for an internal auxiliary 200-gallon fuel tank.

Program management of the MH-60S OAMCM capability is divided between the Airborne Mine Countermeasures Program, PMS-495, and the Multi-Mission Helicopter Program, PMA 299. PMS-495 is responsible for the development of the five sensor systems. PMA 299 is responsible for development of several support systems and the integration of the five sensor systems and the support systems with the helicopter.

Contractor integration testing, including ground and flight integration of the five individual mission subsystems, will be executed by The Naval Surface Warfare Center Coastal Systems Station (CSS), Panama City, FL. and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two One (HX-21), Patuxent River, MD, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Technical evaluation of the MH-60S OAMCM configuration will be performed by both HX-21 and CSS. Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One, Patuxent River, MD. will perform operational evaluation of all five-mission subsystems of the OAMCM MH-60S.

FMI: www.navy.mil