Northrop Begins Manufacture of AQS-24B Minehunting System Parts in Australia

Northrop Grumman Corporation has started to manufacture components of the AQS-24B towed minehunting system with Marand Precision Engineering in Australia, at their Moorabbin, Victoria facility.

The AQS-24 minehunting system includes an operational High Speed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (HSSAS) and an optical laser line scan sensor. The system performs high resolution detection, localization, classification and identification of mine-like objects from helicopter and unmanned surface vessel platforms at speeds up to 18 knots, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Assemblies will be delivered this summer to satisfy existing spares contracts Northrop Grumman has to support fielded and operational AQS-24 systems.

Northrop Grumman has also expanded its current partnership with Sydney-based Electrotech Australia, which currently performs post-delivery support of Northrop navigation and radar systems operating in Australia, to include future sustainment of the AQS-24B mine hunting sensor systems.