Raytheon Company and Naval Sea Systems Command have finalized an $11m
modification to an existing contract for the company's AN/AQS-20A mine
hunting sonar systems. The modification brings the total value of the
contract, originally awarded in September 2005, to $104.9 million.
Under the contract, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) will
manufacture, test and deliver 11 AQS-20A sets and associated support
equipment and
engineering services. The contract also includes an option
for 11 additional systems, services and support equipment for 2007.
AN/AQS-20A, a component of the Organic Mine Countermeasures family of
systems, is the primary mine hunting system integrated into the U.S. Navy's
MH-60S airborne mine countermeasures helicopters. It provides critical
capabilities in support of mine-clearing operations in both deep-ocean and littoral waters.
AN/AQS-20A enables the detection, classification and localization of
bottom, close-tethered and volume mines. It is also the primary mine
hunting mission system for the Littoral Combat Ship Flight 0. The proven
and highly capable AN/AQS-20A system is towed undersea to scan the water in
front and to the sides of the vehicle as well as the sea bottom for
anti-shipping mines. The system uses sonar and electro-optical sensors to
provide high-resolution images of mines and mine-like objects and
high-precision location information.
Work on the contract will be performed at Raytheon IDS' Maritime
Mission Center in Portsmouth, R.I., Arete Associates in Tucson, Ariz., and
Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC in Norfolk, Va.