The Royal Australian Navy will soon have a superior and more cost effective minesweeping capability after Australian Defence Industries Ltd (ADI) signed a contract to provide 18 Australian Acoustic Generators (AAG). RAN Mine Warfare & Clearance Diving System Programme Office director CAPT Rick Longbottom said the new technology would vastly improve Australia's minesweeping measures, especially against the sophisticated mines of today.

The AAG, powered by water driven turbine, can be programmed to simulate electro-hydraulic piston noises made by particular ships. Its electro-hydraulic acoustic module produces harmonically rich waveforms, which can be manipulated to provide a broadband spectrum with ship-like characteristics covering the infrasonic, audio and ultrasonic bands. This acoustic addition to the Australian Minesweeping And Surveillance System (AMASS) will complement the Dyad magnetic source, which provides a magnetic signature of the same structure and length as the vessel being emulated, with similar spatial and temporal characteristics. The contract has a two-stage approach. In the first stage, two generators will be tested to establish their robust and deployable capabilities. A further 16 models will be acquired in the second stage following the identification of any necessary modifications. Total contract value is $7.5 million.