The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force has become the first international naval customer for US defence/aerospace firm Northrop Grumman's ALMDS (Airborne Laser Mine Detection System), the firm reported in an early February 2012 news release.


Four of these hi-tech detection systems will be supplied to the Japanese Navy and they'll equip its MCH-101 helicopters, which are modified versions of the AW101s used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy (where they're designated ‘Merlins'), alongside numerous other operators.


The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force placed an order for 14 AW-101s in 2003 and, prior to pressing them into service, had them locally modified to MCH-101 standard, with new features added that include an automated tail section fold-up system, for ease of storage onboard ships.


Mine Detection System


The MCH-101s are used primarily in the AMCM (Airborne Mine Countermeasures) role, with a secondary transport duty. Equipped with Northrop's mine detection system technology, they'll carry out daily coastline patrols drawing on the system's LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) components to spot and recognise any threats or potential threats located near to the ocean's surface.


"ALMDS will enable the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to cover significant distances at the speed of flight using its MCH-101 aircraft", the US Navy's ALMDS program manager, Donna Carson-Jelley, explained in a Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems press release.


"This technology dramatically compresses the time between mine detection and neutralization. ALMDS keeps mine countermeasures ahead of the threats."


Naval Mine Detection


ALMDS is already in United States Navy service and, in further comments, a Northrop Grumman representative described how, from here on in, the US and Japan could work together as a result of the new Naval Mine Detection system sale.


"The addition of ALMDS to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force mine countermeasures suite of solutions provides them with significantly enhanced mine detection capability-first developed for the United States Navy", said Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems' Pat McMahon.


"The installation of this capability will also improve the exchange of information between the US Navy and JMSDF during allied operations."


Image copyright and courtesy of Northrop Grumman Corp.



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