Airborne Mine Neutralisation System

The Airborne Mine Neutralisation System (AMNS) produced by Lockheed Martin has passed several critical programme milestones since April. The programme has successfully conducted at-sea testing near Panama City (Florida) passed a significant weapons-safety milestone and transferred the first AMNS system to the US Navy. All remaining AMNS equipment is scheduled for delivery by mid-July to support the Navy's technical evaluation, which starts later this summer at Panama City.

AMNS is a helicopter-deployed programme used to reacquire and destroy previously located naval mines using a one-shot expendable remotely operated vehicle. Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems (NE&SS) - Undersea Systems is delivering two complete AMNS systems and multiple neutralisation vehicles under a $10 million fixed-price agreement with the Navy's Airborne Mine Defence Programme Office. Under the AMNS program, NE&SS-Undersea Systems in Syracuse is the industry team lead, systems integrator and launch and handling subsystem developer. STN ATLAS Electronik of Bremen, Germany provides the neutralisation vehicles and the operator control consoles, which are based on its one-shot mine neutralisation system, the SEAFOX.

"AMNS performed successfully in 20 out of 20 at-sea test runs in challenging shallow water," said Undersea Systems President Frank DeBritz. "The system exceeded the expectations of all members of the Navy and industry team that participated. AMNS and mine reconnaissance products such as the Pathmaker Minehunting Sonar and AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System will be key to reducing the danger of naval mines around the world."