Northrop Grumman and Hanwha have signed a memorandum of understanding for South Korea’s Mine Countermeasures Helicopter (KMCH) program.
Under the agreement, Seoul-based Hanwha will support the manufacture of Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) hardware components.
Northrop Grumman’s AN/AES-1 ALMDS detects, classifies, and locates floating and near-surface moored mines, utilizing streak tube imaging Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging).
The system can be installed on various helicopters for wide-area reconnaissance and mine assessment in littoral zones, confined straits, and choke points.
It supports mine neutralization by providing accurate target geo-location.
KMCH Program
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) contracted Northrop in 2023 to provide the ALMDS and technical support for the KMCH program’s engineering, manufacturing, and design (EMD) phase.
The EMD phase is expected to be complete in 2027.
“Industry collaborations with companies such as Hanwha and KAI are key to Northrop Grumman’s approach to technology development across the globe,” vice president of multi-domain command and control programs at Northrop Grumman Janice Zilch said.
“Our team is committed to delivering advanced solutions to meet the security needs of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.”
In 2024, South Korean firm Genohco was contracted by Northrop Grumman to support the manufacture of ALMDS hardware components.
