Old school:
MH-53E & Mk-105 sled
(click to view full)
The US Navy currently uses large CH-53/MH-53 helicopters and towed sleds to help with mine clearance work, but they hope to replace those old systems with something smaller and newer. The MH-60S helicopter’s Airborne Mine Counter-Measures (AMCM) system adds an operator’s station to the helicopter cabin, additional internal fuel stores, and towing capability, accompanied by a suite of carried systems that can be mixed and matched. AMCM is actually 5 different air, surface and sub-surface mine countermeasures systems, all deployed and integrated together in the helicopter.
While the US Navy develops AMCM, and complementary ship-launched systems for use on the new Littoral Combat Ships, new minehunter ship classes like the Ospreys are being retired by the US Navy and sold. All in an era where the threat of mines is arguably rising, along with tensions around key chokepoints like the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz.
This article explains the components involved (AQS-20, ALMDS, AMNS, OASIS, RAMICS; COBRA, RMS, SMCM), chronicles their progress through reports and contracts, and provides additional links for research.
Airborne Mine Counter-Measures (AMCM): The Set
AMCM Components
(click to view full)
The surviving AMCM set includes:
AN/AQS-20 mine hunting sonar (not MH-60S capable, Inc 1#). The AN/AQS-20A uses sonar and electro-optical sensors to provide high-resolution images of mine-like objects and high-precision location information, and can operate in shallow or deep waters. The system is towed under water to scan the water in front and to the sides of the sonar, as well as the sea bottom. This task is especially important in littoral and shallow-water zones, including critical global trade chokepoints like the Straits of Malacca, the Persian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and Panama Canal regions, etc.
The AN/AQS-20′s modular design is being produced under spiral development, which means a continuous series of improvements are being applied and tested. The use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) components alongside proprietary technologies makes this process easier, and will improve the future upgrade process as electronics continue to advance.
Its problem is simple, and was eminently testable and foreseeable: the MH-60S AMCM helicopter doesn’t have enough power to tow it. Almost 8 years after development began, therefore, the AQS-20 is left dependent on the much slower WLD-1 RMMV snorkeling USV. Unfortunately, the RMMV isn’t scheduled to iron out its issues until 2015.
Laser mine finder
(click to view full)
Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (AES-1 ALMDS, Inc 1). In his position as U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer for littoral and mine warfare, Rear Admiral William E. Landay said in 2005 that ALMDS “represents the first new technology to be applied to mine [hunting] since the advent of sonar.”
ALMDS is a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Airborne Mine Countermeasures high area coverage system that detects, classifieds, and localizes floating and near-surface moored sea mines, using a fan-shaped pulsed wide 538-nanometer blue-green laser pattern that samples at rates over 100 per second. As the helicopter’s motion “pushes” the LIDAR fan forward, 4 cameras are arranged to cover the same illuminated swath. An automatic target recognition algorithm picks out potential mine-like objects, and stores their images for classification by shipboard Fleet operators, using computer-aided post-mission analysis tools.
This LIDAR approach gets around the inherent flight and drag limitations of towing bulky gear in the water, which allows faster area search. It also lets a helicopter image an entire ocean area and move on, without stopping to recover equipment. ALMDS’ laser light and streak tube receivers are housed in an external equipment pod, which is mechanically attached to the MH-60S with a standard BRU-14 bomb rack mount. Electrical connections use a primary and auxiliary umbilical cable to the MH-60S AMCM’s common operator console. Data is stored on a mass memory unit for post mission analysis.
The ALMDS program is managed by the US Navy’s PMS-495: the Program Executive Office, Littoral and Mine Warfare, Mine Warfare Program Office. The ALMDS industrial team includes Northrop Grumman Corporation at its Melbourne, FL site, and key suppliers:
NGC subsidiary Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO) in St. Charles, MO (high-powered laser transmitter)
Arete Associates in Tucson, AZ (Receiver Sensor Assembly)
CPI Aero in Edgewood, NY (pod housing)
Curtiss Wright/DY4 in San Diego, CA (central electronics chassis)
Meggitt Defense Systems, Inc. in Irvine, CA (environmental control system).
As recently as March 31/10, ALMDS was cited by the US GAO as not yet meeting system performance requirements, with problems that have included misinterpreting light flashes on the water’s surface for mines. The whole issue of light refraction through a variably-shaped surface isn’t exactly easy, either. Northrop Grumman cites improvements, which has prompted the US Navy to resume buys, and prompted Japan to place a 2012 export order. The GAO continues to cite performance that’s below specifications. Both sides are right.
Airborne Mine Neutralization System (ASQ-235 AMNS, Inc 1). Based on BAE Systems’ Archerfish. It’s a small towed vehicle that acquires mines via sonar, then fires a shaped charge into them. Each AMNS system has 4 of them. It’s especially useful for bottom, close-tethered and in-volume sea mines, and the towed vehicle is designed to be expendable. Good for disposing of found mines at a safe distance, when this can’t be accomplished easily by other methods.
AMCM Companions
LCS trimaran & MH-60S
(click to view full)
These combined AMCM systems will offer more speed and agility in addressing a mine threat, and will be carried by US vessels including the new Littoral Combat Ships. In addition, fitting all 5 AMCM systems into a roll-on/roll-off mission kit for the MH-60S requires a couple of other elements:
The MH-60S Common Console The Common Console is common to all five AMCM systems as well as the other MH-60S missions and provides for control, monitor and display of the AMCM system. It has a single large display that shows multiple views for each sensor, and a smaller navigation display that matches the cockpit’s.
The MH-60S Carriage, Stream, Tow and Recovery System (CSTRS). Does what the title says. Has to be robust, in order to support a number of different systems. Goals included reducing crew size from 5 to 2, and allowing hands-off operation.
Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). TCDL will provide a high-bandwidth, near-real time sensor data link with the ability to relay data to the mine warfare commander.
These combined systems are critical components of the new Littoral Combat Ship’s mine warfare mission module. The new ships will operate MH-60S helicopters, and can take on an MH-60S AMCM helicopter as part of the MIW mine warfare mission module. The AQS-20 sonar can also be attached to the AN/WLD-1 semi-submersible autonomous vehicle, which comes as part of the LCS ship’s swappable mission packages and has been installed in some DDG-51 destroyers as well.
Note that even though these mission packages are designed to work with Freedom or Independence class Littoral Combat Ships, AMCM’s components could be freely deployed on other ships, along with their carrying helicopter.
Some of the Littoral Combat Ship’s MCM systems will be paired with other platforms beyond the MH-60S. Adding a USV/UUV option helps provide more comprehensive shallow water coverage alongside AMCM, and puts deep water coverage within reach, without requiring purpose-built minesweeper ships, or placing large and expensive ships at risk.
RMMV
(click to view full)
Remote Minehunting System: (RMS, Inc 1) Lockheed Martin’s AN/WLD-1 (RMMV) snorkeling USV was set to tow the AN/AQS-20 behind, while also using its own maneuvering power and sensors, in order to scan in front and to the sides for anti-shipping mines and submarines. It could also carry “kill vehicles” for found mines. A launch and retrieval system on the ship, and C2 software, completes the RMS.
Unfortunately, a March 31/10 GAO report cited the RMMV snorkeling USV’s failure to meet performance requirements, and the RMS had its planned buy cut in December 2009. It would deploy only aboard Littoral Combat Ship classes, and only within the mine counter-measures module. Reliability and performance issues were the next problem to surface. By December 2011, the 1st of 3 reliability improvement phases had ended, and funding was in place to continue the RMMV RGP into 2013. A full fix isn’t expected before 2015.
Bluefin 21 UUV
Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV, Inc 4): The SMCM UUV system is designed to reliably detect and identify undersea volume and bottom mines in shallow, high-clutter environments, especially areas with the potential for mine case burial. It will also gather environmental data for use by other MIW systems. This is similar to the idea behind the RMS, but the Knifefish is expected to enter service later, in 2017.
The SMCM system will use Bluefin-21 “Knifefish” UUVs, which were developed with US Navy funding and envisioned as having a role on LCS. The 16.5 foot, 21″ diameter, 1,650 pound (5.02m/ 53.4cm/ 748.5kg) Bluefin-21 has a maximum depth of 4500m, with 25-hour endurance, and inertial navigation systems for precision positioning. It features MIT-spinoff Bluefin Robotics’ modular and flexible vehicle architecture, pressure-tolerant field-swappable subsea batteries, and low-noise propulsion technology. For this role, it will carry an advanced sonar payload developed by SMCM lead contractor General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. SMCM systems will include 2 Bluefin-21s with payloads, launch and recovery equipment, a support container, spare parts, and support equipment.
General Dynamics AIS leads the SMCM team, which includes UUV maker Bluefin Robotics in Quincy, MA; Ultra Electronic Ocean Systems in Braintree, MA; Oceaneering International, Inc. in Houston, TX; Metron in Reston, VA; Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University, PA; 3 Phoenix in Hanover, MD and ASRC Research Technology Solutions in Greenbelt, MD.
MQ-8B with COBRA
(click to view full)
Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis System (COBRA AN/DVS-1, Inc 2 & 4): This system scans beaches for buried mines. Its goal is actually broader than mine detection, and involves “accurate battlefield intelligence depicting tactical objectives, minefields, obstacles and fortifications on the beach and inland areas.” The prototype system uses a fast-scanning LIDAR laser, 3D imaging camera, and target recognition algorithms.
COBRA Block I introduces the system with daytime detection of surface laid minefields and obstacles in the beach zone, including partial capability in the surf zone. It’s slated for deployment as part of MIW Increment 2.
COBRA Block II adds full surf zone detection, plus night detection of mines and obstacle detection. It’s slated for deployment as part of MIW Increment 4.
A COBRA Block III has been mentioned with buried mine detection capability, and on-board Near-Real-Time processing of Multi Spectral Imagery data.
As of 2012, COBRA is still slated for deployment on board MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopters, but it remains to be seen whether that small platform will be adequate. A larger MQ-8C is planned based on the Bell 407 helicopter, and the system could also be added to manned helicopters in the Navy’s fleet.
AMCM: Eliminated
OASIS concept
(click to view full)
Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (ALQ-220 OASIS, eliminated). Long, thin, 10 foot long towed “fish” that can mimic the acoustic or magnetic signatures of a variety of US ships. If there are mines in the area programmed to detonate on that basis, it should set them off. Good for doing fast minesweeping – if the helicopter can actually tow it.
OASIS is subdivided into 6 major components: the Towed Body, the Magnetic Influence Subsystem, the Acoustic Influence Subsystem, the Control/ Monitoring and Power Subsystem, the OASIS Software, and the Tow Cable/ Helicopter Interface. The towed body houses the magnetic and acoustic subsystems and mechanical assemblies. This in-water component is less than 930 pounds in weight, approximately 16 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length. Tension on the tow point is less than 6,000 pounds.
The system failed demonstration trials in 2008 due to excessive corrosion of its tow cable, linked to a nearby forward electrode that set up an unfortunate reaction in salt water. The electrode was repositioned on the towed body instead, but by then, the Navy “discovered” that the MH-60S helicopter didn’t have enough tow capacity to employ it. It was eliminated from AMCM in 2012.
ALMDS & RAMICS
click for video
Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS, eliminated). This weapon coupled a gated electro-optic Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor, and a 30mm MK44 Bushmaster II gun firing a MK 258 Mod 1 armor-piercing, fin-stabilized tracer round. When penetrating the water, the round “supercavitates” as the tip of the high velocity RAMICS projectile vaporizes the water to steam, allowing the shell to ride inside a bubble of gas. That lets it move through the water at very high velocity, and without changing course. Instead of the complete disintegration that usually happens to high-velocity rounds when they hit the water at mid-to-shallow angles.
The combination of sensors like ALMDS and a fast neutralizer like RAMICS would make shallow water mine clearing a pretty fast process, which is very useful when trying to perform tasks like re-opening a key port. Unfortunately, RAMICS hasn’t tested well, and development has been delayed. The Navy is seems to be cutting RAMICS entirely, and expanding AMNS to destroy shallow mines as well.
Northrop Grumman’s RAMICS team included ATK (gun and ammunition), plus Kaman Aerospace Electro-Optics Development Center in Tucson, AZ; DRS Sensors and Targeting Systems in Cypress, CA; CPI Aerostructures in Edgewood, NY; and Meggitt Western Design in Irvine, CA.
Contracts & Key Events
FY 2013
MH-60S “discovered” to lack the power to operate some AMCM systems, over 7 years later; IOC delays, as GAO and testing reports don’t inspire much optimism; Contracts & event updates for various sub-systems; non-AMCM Kingfish systems deployed to the Gulf, as AMCM isn’t ready.
MH-60S w. AQS-20 – out
(click to view full)
Aug 6/13: SMCM. The Knifefish UUV successfully completes comprehensive risk reduction testing. Tests included key payload components (high-fidelity SONAR, ultra-high-density data storage/ recording), key propulsion components (quieter, more powerful propulsion) and key software interface elements. Given the problems encountered in other elements, early verification the hardware architecture and critical areas of hardware and software integration is a good idea.
Will it make a difference? SMCM is an Increment 4 system, and 2017 is still a few years away. We won’t really know until operational testing of the full system takes place against realistic challenges, in a realistic environment. General Dynamics.
July 1/13: AQS-20. Raytheon IDS in Portsmouth, RI receives a $14.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order. They’ll upgrade the AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar’s 3493-AS-780-9 configuration with a high frequency wide band forward look sonar, multi-function side looking sonar, and associated components. $2.5 million in FY 2013 RDT&E funding is committed immediately.
The work will be performed in Portsmouth, RI, and is expected to be complete by by September 2014. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with the “1 responsible source” provisions in 10 U.S.C. 2304(c). The US Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, FL manages the contract (N61331-12-G-0001, #0004).
June 27/13: Kingfish? The US Navy announces that it has deployed the MK18 MOD 2 Kingfish mine-detecting UUVs to the “5th Fleet Area of Responsibility” (read: Persian Gulf). The contractor-operated Kingfish isn’t part of AMCM, it’s an independent program based on the commercial REMUS 600, and it’s replacing the in-theater MK18 MOD 1 Swordfish that’s based on Kongsberg Marine’s smaller REMUS 100. The Kingfish’s Small Synthetic Aperture Sonar Module (SSAM) configuration provides wider sonar swath scan, higher resolution imagery, and buried target detection.
While it’s currently contractor-operated, the US Navy does intend to begin operating them in 2015. It probably could be loaded onto a Littoral Combat ship as an interim measure, ahead of the planned 2017 in-service date for Bluefin Robotics’ Knifefish SMCM UUV. US Navy.
June 20/13: RMS. The Navy announces that the 2nd and final phase of RMS reliability testing have gone well, after over 47 missions and 850 testing hours at Lockheed Martin’s Riviera Beach, FL facility.
Initial analysis of the tests reportedly shows that RMS reliability is ahead of where it was expected to be at this point, and that it “demonstrated the required reliability necessary to meet program requirements.” If that’s true, emergency deployments become thinkable, but the statement can be weaseled. We await DOT&E reports to supply precise figures, and compare them to original program goals. RMS program manager Steve Lose says that the next phase of developmental testing will begin in summer 2013. US Navy.
May 21/13: RMS. Lockheed Martin Corp. in Palm Beach, FL receives a maximum $52.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to perform maintenance, testing and integration of the WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System with Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mission modules and ships. Improvements to the USV’s below-target reliability and effectiveness are scheduled to continue until 2015.
Work will be performed in Palm Beach, FL (80%), and Syracuse, NY (20%), and is expected to be complete by May 2016. $8.5 million in FY 2013 Research, Development, Test & Evaluation funding is committed immediately, with the rest allocated as needed. This contract was not competitively procured, pursuant to 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1) “one responsible supplier,” by US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC (N00024-13-C-6300).
April 18/13: AMNS. BAE Systems Electronics’ Maritime Services Division in Portsmouth, UK receives an $8.3 million contract modification related to their Archerfish system. The initial announcement included program management and support, calibration and maintenance services, a cost-plus-fixed-fee CLIN for engineering services support, and a system upgrade providing “a significant reliability and performance improvement to the current MK-105″. This April 10/13 announcement was a mistake – the Mk.105 is a sled towed by a large MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter.
An April 18/13 correction says that the contract will only “complete production and delivery of Archerfish neutralizers (destructor, mine neutralization, Airborne EX64 Mod 0 Archerfish).” We suspect that this is also imprecise, given plans to order more MIW packages. Completion of Archerfish production within existing orders is more likely.
Work will be performed in Portsmouth, UK, and is expected to be complete by September 2014. $7.8 million in FY 2012 and 2013 Navy Weapons Procurement funding is committed immediately. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division in Panama City, FL manages the contracts (N61331-08-C-0012).
April 8/13: SMCM. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems announces a successful Critical Design Review for the Knifefish UUV. The SMCM team will now begin building 3 engineering development modules. An operational version is expected to attain initial operational capability in 2017. GD-AIS.
April 8/13: COBRA. BAE Systems announces a $20 million contract to develop the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA Block I) system for detecting and plotting land-based mines and shore obstacles in daylight, with some near-shore shallow water capability. The prototype system uses a fast-scanning LIDAR laser, 3D imaging camera, and target recognition algorithms.
BAE has been working with the Office of Naval Research to mature the associated LIDAR technologies, under Section 819 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which is aimed at the development of advanced components or prototypes. Work will be performed at the company’s facilities in Honolulu, HI; Greenlawn, NY; Acton, MA; and Hudson, NH.
March 28/13: GAO Report. The US GAO tables its “Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs“. Which is actually a review for 2012, plus time to compile and publish. The Navy owns 3 MCM (mine, 1st delivery Sept. 2007) and 4 SUW (“surface warfare”, 1st delivery July 2008) mission modules, and has completely re-started the ASW anti-submarine module. Several of the sub-systems in these modules are still experiencing performance problems, many components are still in development, and the Navy has yet to fully integrate these technologies and test them on board an LCS in a realistic environment. In October 2012, DOD delegated future decision authority to the Navy and requested an acquisition program baseline within 60 days – which was not delivered on schedule.
For MCM, The Navy plans to accept 1 more in 2013, but it doesn’t meet requirements. The MH-60S helicopter can’t tow the AQS-20A sonar as planned, the WLD-1 USV has performance issues, the ALMDS laser system gets too many false positives from surface reflections, and the RAMICS gun and OASIS decoy are out. Nonetheless, the Navy describes recent MCM tests as “very successful”. The Navy plans to conduct developmental testing in FY 2014 and establish initial operational capability with 7 MCM modules in September 2014. Full operational capability isn’t expected until 2018, when the Navy is expected to have 21 LCS ships, of 30 ordered.
March 18/13: IOC delays. Jane’s quotes director of navy staff Vice-Admiral Richard Hunt says that the Continuing Resolutions have “delayed us probably a year for IOC [initial operational capability] for a couple of those different modules…”
Jan 17/13: DOT&E Testing Report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2012 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). The LCS mission modules still have a lot of issues. There isn’t anything left to test any more in the ASW anti-submarine module, for instance, so DOT&E didn’t report on it while the Navy considers a re-start.
Mine Warfare: Begin with the MH-60S helicopter, which isn’t powerful enough to safely tow the AQS-20A sonar or OASIS decoy under all of the required conditions. Both are being removed from AMCM, and OASIS is removed from the MIW module. This would seem to be the epitome of a foreseeable/ easily testable problem, but it’s being “discovered” 7 years after development began. Why?
The AQS-20A will now depend on the WLD-1 RMMV snorkeling USV, which is trying to correct its reliability and performance issues by 2015. RMMV v4.1 is showing some improvements in limited testing, but the ships themselves need to make changes to launch and recover it while underway. The AQS-20A sonar has its own problems with contact depth calculations in all modes, and with false contacts in 2 of 3 search modes. The Navy hopes to find AQS-20 engineering fixes. Meanwhile, in order to reduce those errors, the Navy will have to slow its scan methods and reduce the area covered.
The AES-1 ALMDS laser mine-detection system doesn’t meet Navy requirements for False Classification Density or reliability, and the DOT&E expects to issue a formal test report in Q2 FY2013. The Navy hopes to find engineering fixes. Meanwhile, in order to reduce those errors, the Navy will have to slow its scan methods and reduce the area covered. Some reports suggest that ALMDS will be cut entirely, but the raft of other MCM system casualties may force the Navy to keep it.
MH-60S can’t perform the mission for several AMCM components
Dec 28/12: RMS. Lockheed Martin in Riviera Beach, FL receives a $12.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order to perform Remote Minehunting System / WLD-1 RMMV USV maintenance, testing and integration with the with Littoral Combat Ship. The WLD-1 is currently working on improving its reliability and performance, after falling short in these areas.
Work will be performed in Palm Beach, FL (87%), and Syracuse, NY (13%), and is expected to be complete by May 2013. $5.3 million is committed immediately, and $295,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/13. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages the contract (N00024-10-G-6306).
Dec 20/12: AMNS. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Portsmouth, RI receives a $7.9 million contract modification, covering AMNS’ Critical Design Review.
Work will be performed in Portsmouth, RI, and is expected to be complete by July 2013. All contract funds are committed immediately, and $4.7 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/13. US NAVSEA in Washington DC in is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-6307).
FY 2011 – 2012
AMCM not ready, Seafox deployed to Gulf instead; Development contract for SMCM UUV; RAMICS on the chopping block; Testing & orders for other sub-systems.
Knifefish
(click to view full)
April 5/12: ALMDS. Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Melbourne, FL receives a $27.1 million contract modification for AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) low rate initial production.
This appears to be ALMDS LRIP Lot 4. LRIP-3, issued Oct 19/10, was a $45 million US Navy contract for 4 pods, plus spares, product development and support.
Work will be performed in Melbourne, FL (36.2%); Tucson, AZ (34%); St. Charles, MO (12.5%); Irvine, CA (8%); San Clarita, CA (5%); and Edgewood, NY (4.3%), and is expected to be complete by April 2014. The US Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division in Panama City, FL manages the contract (N61331-10-C-0023). Military & Aerospace.
Feb 17/12: Seafox instead. With Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, and tensions running high, the US Navy makes urgent purchases of mine-hunting equipment. Unfortunately, AMCM systems are not featured, even though this is precisely the kind of situation they were designed for. With AMCM unready, the Navy turns to Atlas Elektronik’s ship and helicopter-launched Seafox UUVs. Read “Gulf Chokepoint: Seafox Saves the Day?” for full coverage.
Feb 2/12: ALMDS for Japan. Japan becomes ALMDS’ first export customer, buying 4 of the laser mine detection systems to equip its MCH-101 (AW101) medium-heavy naval helicopters. The Japanese will be using them around their ports and shipping lanes. Read more in “Japan’s MCH-101: All Your Mine Are Belong to Us.”
Dec 19/11: RMS. Lockheed Martin announces the end of the 1st of 3 planned development and testing cycles, involving 500 hours of reliability testing on the U.S. Navy’s WLD-1 RMMV. These efforts are aimed at improving the RMS’ system reliability and operational availability. See also March 31/10 entry.
Dec 16/11: RMS. Lockheed Martin Corp. in Riviera Beach, FL receives a not-to-exceed $52.7 million cost-plus-incentive-fee letter contract for the RMMV Reliability Growth Program. The contract will fund a comprehensive development and test program to improve the mean time between operational mission failures, and prepare the system for LCS developmental tests and operational assessment. The RMMV RGP will use critical systems reviews and subsequent design reviews, predictive reliability tools, spiral development with in-water testing, and installation of RMMV reliability upgrades.
Work will be performed in Palm Beach, FL (91.4%); Syracuse, NY (8.4%); and Manassas, VA (0.2%), and is expected to be complete by December 2013. This contract was not competitively procured, and is being awarded as a sole source contract pursuant to 10 U.S.C 2304c1 by US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC (N00024-12-C-6316).
Nov 16/11: AMNS. Navy VX-21 successfully conducts the first complete Airborne Mine Neutralization System detect-to-engage sequence near Panama city, FL, demonstrating the system’s ability to fire an Archerfish destructor against an inert target. So far, 5 low-rate initial production systems have been delivered to the Navy, with the 6th system scheduled to be delivered in January 2012. US Navy | Raytheon.
Sept 30/11: SMCM UUV. General Dynamics Advanced Informational Systems Inc. in McLeansville, NC wins a $48.6 million contract with cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and firm-fixed-price line items for the engineering, manufacturing and development of the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV). This will be part of the Littoral Combat Ship’s MCM mission package, and this contract contains an option for up to 5 low rate initial production systems, which could bring its cumulative value to $86.7 million. The contract will be initially funded with $10.1 million, as FY 2011 expires.
On Nov 21/11, Bluefin Robotics announces the subcontract from General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems for the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV), and details the system: 2 of its large Bluefin-21 UUVs, launch and recovery equipment, a support container, spare parts and support equipment, and an advanced sonar payload developed by GD-AIS.
Work will be performed in McLeansville, NC (38%), Quincy, MA (27%), Braintree, MA (16%), Houston, TX (10%), Reston, VA (5%), State College, PA (3%), and Fairfax, VA (1%), and is expected to be complete by March 2016. The addition of Quincy, MA suggests that Bluefin Robotics was already part of the solution in September 2011. $237,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitive procured via the FBO.gov website, with 4 offers received by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division in Panama City Beach, FL (N61331-11-C-0017).
Sept 2/11: AMNS. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Portsmouth, RI receives an $8.8 million contract modification to fabricate, assemble, test and deliver 5 Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) low rate initial production systems.
Work will be performed in Portsmouth, RI, and is expected to be complete in August 2013. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington DC manages this contract (N00024-10-C-6307).
June 16/11: RMS. The US Navy Program Executive Office for Littoral and Mine Warfare (PEO LMW) announces the successful first time launch and recovery of the WLD-1 Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) semi-submerged USV from USS Independence [LCS 2], while underway near Panama, FL. The vehicle went through 5 successful cycles of deployment, towed operations and recovery, while also testing things like vehicle stability in the wake zone and remote operation.
In active use, the RMMV will tow the AN/AQS 24A sonar, and the entire Remote Minehunting System is scheduled for further testing in summer 2011 as part of the LCS MIW mine warfare module’s core AMCM system. The effectiveness of LCS rear launch and recovery systems has been a concern for both class designs, so the test was useful from that perspective as well. US NAVSEA.
March 4/11: COBRA. Small business qualifier Arete Associates in Tucson, AZ receives a $26.4 million firm-fixed-price letter contract for 3 AN/DVS-1 Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) low rate initial production Block 1 systems, which will become part of the Mine Warfare Mission Package on board the littoral combat ship. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ, and is expected to be completed by March 2013.
This contract was not competitively procured by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division in Panama City Beach, FL. It’s actually a continuation of earlier Small Business Innovative Research awards. As a result of SBIR Phase III, the delivered COBRA systems are expected to have the software that satisfies the performance requirements, with mine counter measure, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, and tactical littoral sensor modes installed (N61331-11-C-0007).
Jan 24/11: RAMICS. Gannett’s Navy Times reports that the RAMICS supercavitating 30mm cannon for killing shallow mines may be on the Navy’s chopping block, after performing poorly in testing. It would be replaced by the AMNS system, which would do double duty against both shallow and deep water mines using its Archerfish kill vehicle.
The tradeoff would be one of greater performance certainty, cost certainty, timely delivery, and commonalty on one side; vs. the ability to engage far more shallow water mines in less time by using a RAMICS system that worked.
Dec 10/10: RMS. Lockheed Martin Corp. in Riviera Beach, FL receives a $20 million cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order for engineering services to support reliability improvements to the Remote Minehunting System. Work will include engineering services, testing, program management and configuration management. See Aug 31/10 entry to understand why this work is necessary.
Work will be performed in Riviera Beach, FL (90%), and Syracuse, NY (10%), and is expected to be complete by September 2011. $3.3 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages this contract (N00024-10-G-6306, #0003).
Dec 2/10: RAMICS. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Melbourne, FL receives a $9.5 million modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-02-C-6324) for continued RAMICS post-delivery technical support. This contract will be used to maintain, modify and/or repair delivered hardware and software; modify or build new RAMICS system components to resolve producibility, obsolescence, and end-of-life issues, and update the technical data package with the changes; and provide a range of engineering services ad studies.
Work will be performed in Melbourne, FL and is expected to be complete by September 2011. The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, FL manages this contract.
Nov 3/10: AMCM. Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY a $14.7 million delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement for airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) testing and systems development. That means it covers the AMCM system set as a whole.
Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in December 2011. $1.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract (N00019-09-G-0005).
Oct 19/10: ALMDS. Northrop Grumman announces a $45 million US Navy contract for ALMDS Low-Rate Initial Production Phase 3: 4 AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System pods, plus spares, product development and support. Northrop Grumman touts the AES-1′s lower cost-per-pod than in previous lots.
Oct 13/10: COBRA The Navy successfully conducts the 1st flight test of the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) Block I system at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ, on board the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical take-off unmanned aerial vehicle. The tests were successful.
The AN/DVS-1 COBRA system is designed to detect minefields and obstacles to prepare for amphibious assaults in the beach zone and inland areas. The COBRA Block I system will enter low-rate initial production under a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase III contract, with the first production unit scheduled for delivery to the fleet in FY 2012. US Navy.
FY 2009 – 2010
GAO report on AMCM systems shows a bunch of problems.
AMNS Archerfish
(click to view full)
Sept 23/10: AMNS. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Portsmouth, RI receives a $14.7 million firm-fixed-price contract (N00024-10-C-6302) for 7 low rate initial production Airborne Mine Neutralization Systems, and associated engineering services. This contract includes an option which would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $24.4 million if it’s exercised.
Work will be performed in Portsmouth, RI, and is expected to be complete by September 2014. AMNS provider has already been picked, so this contract was not competitively awarded by US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC. Raytheon release
Aug 31/10: The US GAO report #GAO-10-523 on the LCS program sees problems with the mission modules, AMCM among them. “Defense Acquisitions: Navy’s Ability to Overcome Challenges Facing the Littoral Combat Ship Will Determine Eventual Capabilities.” Key excerpts and conclusions, by system:
AN/AQS-20A Sonar – est, fielding 2011: “Operational testing has been delayed, however, due to decertification of the system following integration problems with the common tow cable that connects it to the MH-60S helicopter”.
Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) – est, fielding 2011: “The mount that connects the system to the MH-60S carriage, stream, tow, and recovery system is being redesigned following loss of a test unit”.
Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis System (COBRA) – est, fielding 2012: “System has demonstrated capability to detect buried mines on the beach when flown from the MH-53 helicopter, but has yet to be integrated with its host platform, the MQ-8B Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle”.
OASIS – est. fielding 2012: “Engineering development model experienced excessive corrosion at its interface point with the common tow cable during testing from an MH-53E helicopter. The Navy has implemented a design solution, and new models are in production”.
Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) with Unmanned Surface Sweep System – est. fielding 2012. “Micro-turbine-powered magnetic towed cable and acoustical signal generator towed from an unmanned surface craft; Development status: Prototypes of the unmanned surface vehicle have experienced connectivity and communication issues at distance, reliability issues with their electrical generators, and software malfunctions. Additionally, the Navy is redesigning the cable planned to tow the unmanned surface sweep system due to durability concerns… remains in early development”.
ALMDS laser mine detection – est. fielding 2011: “Testing of this system has revealed problems detecting mines at the required maximum depth and classifying mines at surface depths. According to Navy officials, the system’s required maximum detection depth could be reduced because the system can currently detect mine-like objects at depths that extend below the keels of all ships in the fleet. According to Director, Operational Test and Evaluation officials, however, the system is currently incapable of providing this capability with the required accuracy. Further, Navy officials report that the Remote Minehunting System could provide coverage in near-surface areas of the water that the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System currently cannot reach.”
RMS/WLD-1 est. fielding 2015:
“The Navy abandoned initial operational test and evaluation of this system in June 2007 following reliability issues – both software and hardware related – affecting the underwater vehicle. Subsequent plans for resuming this testing in September 2008 were deferred because of continuing concerns about the reliability of the underwater vehicle, and the scheduled test was downgraded to an operational assessment. Spurred by cost growth facing the system, the Office of the Secretary of Defense recently completed a review of the program, subsequently deciding to allow the system to continue development. The Navy is currently executing a reliability growth plan for the system”.
“…Most notably, the system was only able to function for 7.9 hours before failing [in 2008 tests] – far short of its minimum requirement… since the 2008 event, the Navy’s estimated mean time between failures for the system has increased to 45 hours. According to Navy officials, testing and design changes are expected to last into 2011. While the Navy is actively exploring ways to improve Remote Minehunting System reliability, it is also considering reducing the reliability requirement by half.
“…For [RMS and ALMDS] the Navy has delayed further production pending successful resolution of developmental challenges… According to Navy officials, relaxing the performance requirements for the Remote Minehunting System and the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System is one option under consideration.”
RAMICS gun – est. fielding 2017: “Separate engineering development models of the gun and targeting pod have been tested with mixed results. Gun testing demonstrated the need to redesign the bushing (shock absorber). Targeting pod testing revealed problems reacquiring minelike objects and maintaining a gun lock on them. The Navy is rewriting software to address the targeting pod issues”.
June 30/10: ALMDS. Northrop Grumman announces that they have begun the next phase of ALMDS’ US Navy flight testing. The Navy is conducting the Developmental Flight Test-IIE (DT-IIE) program from its Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, FL, and the 1st flight of about 40 or so occurred on June 8/10. A technical evaluation will follow and will lead to the full-scale Operational Evaluation in late 2011. Good performance could lead to full-rate production; meanwhile, an LRIP Lot 3 contract is expected later in 2010. Northrop Grumman Maritime and Tactical Systems VP Dan Chang:
“We’ve had four flights to date [under DT-IIE] and, though I can’t go into details, the feedback we’ve gotten is that the system is performing well and reliably… The flight test data have allowed us to make a few minor software adjustments that have sharpened the capabilities of the system.”
June 24/10: ALMDS. Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems’ Battle Management and Engagement Systems Division in Melbourne, FL received a $9.5 million contract modification for continued ALMDS post-delivery technical support (PDTS) and provisioned item order support. This modification raises the contract ceiling, and extends the PDTS period of performance for ALMDS low-rate initial production units. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Fla., and is expected to be complete by December 2010.
Northrop Grumman’s work may include: systems engineering; tracking performance metrics; modifying/ repairing delivered hardware; modifying or building ALMDS components to fix producibility, obsolescence, and end-of-life issues; keeping ALMDS’ technical data package up to date; maintaining delivered hardware and software; quality assurance; manufacturing; test and evaluation; and the paperwork of presentations, white papers, and trade studies. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division in Panama City, FL issued the contract (N61331-05-C-0049).
April 1/10: The Pentagon releases its April 2010 Selected Acquisitions Report, covering major program changes up to December 2009. One of the changes is to the Remote Minehunting System (WLD-1) in the AMCM suite:
“The PAUC (Program Acquisition Unit Cost, includes R&D) increased 79.5% and the APUC (Average Procurement Unit Cost, no R&D) increased 54.6% to the current and original [baselines] as a result of a reduction in production quantities, the use of an incorrect average unit cost as a basis of estimate in the 2006 program baseline calculation, and an increase in development costs needed to address reliability issues. The Navy re-evaluated the capabilities of the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and decided to eliminate the Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) from the ASW Mission Package. This decision reduced the total number of RMMV production units from the program baseline quantity of 108 to the current quantity of 54. The increase in development costs was needed to address reliability problems, which arose during an operational assessment in 2008.”
This level of overage is a critical breach, a.k.a. a Nunn-McCrdy breach. The legislation forces the Pentagon to certify the program’s fitness to continue, and provides for potential Congressional involvement.
SAR – RMS cuts & problems
March 31/10: The US GAO releases its 2010 Assessment of Selected Weapon Programs, including the Littoral Combat Ships mission modules. With respect to the AMCM systems, it says:
“Overall, operation of the MCM, SUW, and ASW packages requires a total of 22 critical technologies, including 11 sensors, 6 vehicles, and 5 weapons… The Navy has accepted delivery of two partially capable MCM mission packages; however, the program has delayed the procurement of the fiscal year 2009-funded package due to technical issues and the resulting operational test delays. Four MCM systems – the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), Unmanned Sweep System (USS), Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS), and Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS) – have not yet been demonstrated in a realistic environment, and two others – the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and Remote Minehunting System (RMS) – cannot meet system requirements. ALMDS has been unable to meet its mine detection requirements at its maximum depth or its mine detection and classification requirements at surface depths. RMS demonstrated poor system reliability, availability, and maintainability in a September 2008 operational assessment, and program officials report the system is currently undergoing a series of tests to try to improve its reliability. Program officials also reported that the cable used to tow certain airborne MCM systems had to be redesigned following test failures with two systems.”
March 11/10: ALMDS. The 3rd and final low-rate initial production Lot 2 ALMDS pod is delivered to and accepted the US Navy. The company delivered the LRIP Lot 2 pods approximately 3 weeks ahead of schedule, on average. The company and the Navy are in the final stages of preparing the LRIP Lot 3 production contract. NGC release.
Feb 22/10: Training. US Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) in Orlando, FL announces that it intends to negotiate, on a sole-source basis under FAR 6.302-1, a contract with CAE USA, Inc. for 3 MH-60R Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFT), and 1 MH-60R/S Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT). The MH-60R/S TOFT consists of 3 trainers: the MH-60R/S Operational Flight Trainer (OFT), the MH-60R Weapons Tactics Trainer (WTT) and the MH-60S Weapons Tactics Trainer (WTT).
The MH-60S WTT as delivered will have the capability to train, from basics to tactical missions, the AN/AQS-20A Mine Hunting Sonar, the AN/AQS-235 Airborne Mine Neutralizer System (AMNS), the AN/ALQ-220 Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS), and the AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) – but not the RAMICS gun system, yet. FBO Presolicitation N61339-10-R-0016.
Jan 11/10: ALMDS. Northrop Grumman announces delivery of the 1st LRIP Lot 2 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) to the US Navy, more than 6 weeks ahead of schedule.
Dec 18/09: Gannett’s Navy Times reports that Remote Mine-hunting System WLD-1/ AN/AQS-20 sonar combination would rise 85.3% from its original estimate and cost about $22.4 million per copy, while the RMMV/WLD-1 by itself could rise by 52% to $12.7 million per copy.
The main instigator for the cost spikes is the Navy’s decision to halve production from 108 to 54 units, by deleting the RMS from the Littoral Combat Ship’s anti-submarine package, and confining it to the mine warfare module. The Navy has also decided not to deploy the RMS combination from DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class destroyers, and confine the set to its Littoral Combat Ships.
The second issue with cost increases involves reported reliability issues with the WLD-1. The USV reportedly met 8 of 9 major goals, and the Navy is currently looking into the data to review resolution options and progress.
FY 2008 – 2009
AQS-20 towing sonar has a problem; AMCM doesn’t fit in LCS; Contracts for other AMCM sub-systems.
Loading…
(click to view full)
Sept 23/09: COBRA. Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems Eastern Region in Melbourne, FL receives a $6.1 million contract modification to provide post delivery technical support of the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis system’s Engineering & Manufacturing Development units. Work will be performed in Melbourne, FL, and is expected to be complete by September 2010. The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, FL manages this contract (N61331-01-C-0037). FBO solicitation.
Sept 2/09: AQS-20 & AMNS. Raytheon announces that it has delivered the AN/AQS-20A Minehunting Sonar and AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) to the U.S. Navy. Both of the low rate initial production models of the AN/AQS-20A and AN/ASQ-235 AMNS will be extensively tested. Under the current contracts, Raytheon will deliver a total of 20 AN/AQS-20A systems by January 2011, and 5 AMNS by December 2009.
AMNS re-acquires and neutralizes mines found by AN/AQS-20A, using a launch and handling sled equipped with 4 unmanned Archerfish kill vehicles. Both systems have been integrated into the MH-60S and the MH-53E airborne mine countermeasures helicopters. The AN/AQS-20A has also been operated from the AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System USV.
April 23/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Oswego in Oswego, NY received a $5.6 million cost plus fixed fee, firm fixed price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for engineering and technical support in the integration of Organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures (OAMCM) Systems into a MH-60S helicopter. The 5 OAMCM systems to be incorporated in the MH-60S are the AN/AQS-20A Advanced Sonar System; Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS); Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS); Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS); and Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS). This acquisition supports the fundamental effort of integrating this entire suite of Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) systems with the helicopter structurally and with the helicopter Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) systems.
Work will be performed in Oswego, NY (50%) and Panama City, FL (50%), and is expected to be complete by April 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, FL (N61331-09-D-0009).
April 15/09: AMNS, OASIS. ITT Corp. announces a maximum $49.5 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity makes the company the US Navy’s designated depot and engineering agent for airborne mine countermeasure systems, including AMCM’s ITT-produced Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep System (OASIS), and Airborne Mine Neutralizer System (AMNS). ITT’s work will include developing interactive technical manuals and training.
This contract also covers the in-service MK-105 Magnetic Minesweeping System hydrofoil, which is towed by the MH-53E. It won’t be used by the LCS ships, or the MH-60S.
The IDIQ award is a “follow on” contract to a previous $25.2 million maintenance and support deal ITT had with NSWC. The MK-105 systems are currently operational in Corpus Christi, TX; 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain; and Norfolk, VA; other contract work will be performed at ITT Electronic Systems’ Under Sea Systems division’s Mine Defense Systems business area in Panama City, FL. Panama city News Herald.
March 11/09: RAMICS. Northrop Grumman touts the results of a recent RAMICS test, which featured a gun suspended from a 50-story tower. The goal was to locate and fire 8 rounds at a submerged target, and expected just 1 hit. Instead, it got 7 hits within a tightly grouped pattern. The test took place at the Lake Glendora test range within the Navy Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN.
Feb 2/09: CSTRS. Concurrent Technology Corp. in Johnstown, PA received an $11.5 million indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract with a cost plus fixed fee pricing arrangement to provide technical and engineering services for continued Carriage, Stream, Tow, and Recovery System (CSTRS) development, test, and analysis. This procurement is in support of the ongoing development and test of the CSTRS to incorporate Airborne Mine Countermeasures capabilities and will be utilized on the MH-60S