Helikopter - AW101 særdeles anvendelig

Japan Introduces New Airborne Mine-hunting Helicopter

by Chris Pocock

 - March 13, 2015, 11:04 AM

 

The towed mine-hunting system deploys from the rear of the AW-101 helicopter. (photo: AgustaWestland)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has delivered the first AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter equipped for the airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) role. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will conduct trials of the AMCM system from Iwakuni air base, before it enters operational service next year. KHI builds the AW101 under license in Japan, where it is designated MCH-101. 

The Japanese company has led development of the AMCM variant, which provides a complete sea surface-to-bottom detection capability, according to  AgustaWestland. The European company modified the AW101’s automatic flight control system to enable coupled towing patterns using the Northrop Grumman AN/AQS-24A airborne mine-hunting system. This is installed in the cabin, and deployed, towed and recovered via the rear ramp of the AW101. It features a high-resolution, side scan sonar for real-time detection, localization and classification of bottom and moored mines at high area coverage rates and a laser line scanner to provide precision optical identification of underwater mines and other objects of interest. According to AgustaWestland, the AN/AQS-24A is the only operationally proven, high-speed airborne mine-hunting system in the world.

The helicopter also carries Northrop Grumman’s AN/AES-1 airborne mine laser detection system. This uses pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers housed in an external equipment pod to survey the entire near-surface volume potentially containing mines. The pod is mounted on the port weapon carrier and data is displayed on the cabin mission console.

Japan and the U.S. are the only two countries that use helicopters to detect underwater mines. Other countries use a combination of methods, including ship-mounted sonar; specialist glass-fiber detection vessels; unmanned underwater (UUVs) and divers. Helicopters are sometimes used to deploy towed cutting devices that sever the mines’ moorings, so that they float to the surface where they can easily be located and destroyed.

In a reference to the U.S. AMCM capability, carried out by the Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon that uses the sameAN/AQS-24A system,  AgustaWestland claimed that the new version of the AW101 is “the only modern helicopter type” performing the AMCM mission. However, the U.S. Navy could presumably choose to acquire an AMCMversion of the new CH-53K King Stallion, if it wishes.

KHI is building a total of 13 AW101s for the JMSDF. Eight have now been delivered.