MELBOURNE, Fla., Sept. 13, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) recently received a $124.5 million U.S. Navy letter contract for the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). Operating from the MH-60S helicopter, ALMDS uses a light detecting and ranging blue-green laser to detect, localize and classify near-surface, moored and floating sea mines.
The initial contract awarded a total of $45.5 million for a low-rate initial production (LRIP) of three AN/AES-1 ALMDS pods. The contract calls for options totaling $79 million for an additional six LRIP pods, one full-rate production lot of six pods, two training systems and integrated logistics support for the system.
"Northrop Grumman has been aggressively pursuing emerging technologies to combat the growing threat from mines," said Robert Johnston, director of Northrop Grumman's Mine Countermeasures Program. "The transformational mine-detection technology used in ALMDS is critical for creating safer passage around the world for our servicemen and women."
The ALMDS program is managed by the Program Executive Office, Littoral and Mine Warfare, Mine Warfare Program Office, PMS-495. The Navy plans to buy 57 ALMDS pods between 2005 and 2011. The overall program is valued at approximately $200 million.
"This contract represents an important step forward: now we are producing the next generation in mine-countermeasures technology," said Gary A. Humes, the Navy's Mine Warfare Program manager. "ALMDS provides the maneuvering force with the essential capability to dominate the complex, high-operational tempo environment of the littorals."
ALMDS is an important element of the mine-warfare mission package designed for the littoral combat ship. The ship will host five airborne mine-countermeasures systems, developed to provide aircraft carrier battle-strike groups and expeditionary-strike groups with full-spectrum organic mine-hunting and reconnaissance capability.
Production of the ALMDS pods will take place at Northrop Grumman's Airborne Ground Surveillance & Battle Management Systems facility in Melbourne, Fla. Melbourne is the home of two additional Navy mine-countermeasures programs and a U.S. Army counter-mine/reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition program.
Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, the prime contractor for a full spectrum of mine countermeasures programs, is a premier aerospace and defense systems integration organization. Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., it designs, develops, produces and supports network-enabled integrated systems and subsystems optimized for use in networks. For its government and civil customers worldwide, Integrated Systems delivers best-value solutions, products and services that support military and homeland defense missions in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; space access; battle management command and control; and integrated strike warfare.