The U.S. Navy has contracted Northrop Grumman Corp. for the continued production of the AN/AES-1Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). Mounted on the MH-60S helicopter, the ALMDS detects and geo-locates mine-like objects over sea lanes using pulsed lasers and streak tube receivers for 3-D imaging. Northrop will also produce five ALMDS pod subsystems. “The airborne sensor has the capability to keep our sailors out of the minefield, and we are producing it while reducing the per-pod price over previous buys that helps enable the Navy to meet their cost targets,” said Doug Shaffer, director of electronic attack and maritime systems integration at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. Northrop has already delivered 12 ALMDS pods to the Navy, as well as four pods to the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force; the system has been tested on an EH-101 helicopter. For more information, visit www.northropgrumman.com.