Raytheon has collaborated with the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) – Division Newport, in a bid to improve the features of its AN / AQS-20A minehunting sonar.
This partnership aims to analyse the system’s synthetic aperture sonar in order to fully optimise its ability to capture and process high and low-resolution images of mine threats undersea.
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Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Seapower Capability Systems vice-president Kevin Peppe said: "Extending our long history of collaboration with our NUWC neighbors, this project brings together our respective sonar experts to maximise the performance of a critical undersea warfare capability.
"Our goal is to build on the system’s proven performance and further the advantage that AN / AQS-20A provides to the navy to safely detect and effectively identify these undersea threats."
AN / AQS-20A is a mine warfare sensor and is used to scan the water in front, to the sides of the vehicle, and below for anti-shipping mines.
The system supports the US Navy’s critical minehunting missions that make sure safe access and passage for military and civilian vessels on the world’s oceans and waterways.
It offers higher-quality imaging of objects found deep undersea to aid in the identification and classification of mines.
NUWC supports the ongoing initiatives of the AN / AQS-20A team under ‘work for private party’ contract funded by Raytheon.
The team will extensively evaluate and exercise the sonar’s features, through a series of lab and sea-based tests, to optimise the quality of both high and low-resolution imaging.
Image: Raytheon’s minehunting sonar supports the US Navy to ensure safe access and passage for military and civilian vessels. Photo: courtesy of Raytheon Company.
