Heli-borne mine detection.

The US Navy received its first production Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) from Northrop Grumman in January of this year. The ALMDS was designed to be integrated onto the MH-60S helicopter and uses a Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging (Lidar) blue-green laser to detect and classify near-surface, moored and floating sea mines. In April 2006 Northrop Grumman was initially awarded a $35.7 million contract from the US Navy for low-rate initial production (Lrip) of two AN/AES-1 ALMDS pods. A second Lrip contract is expected to begin in the following months for an additional two pods--the third Lrip and the final production contracts are expected in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and these will see production of another eleven pods.

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