Northrop Grumman has completed a rapid demonstration of its AN/AQS-24 minehunting system integrated with an unmanned surface vehicle, showcasing a potential new uncrewed solution for U.S. Navy mine countermeasures operations.
The company said the demonstration took place 45 days after contract award, with open-water testing conducted in Panama City, Florida. The effort paired the AN/AQS-24 — a minehunting system traditionally towed by helicopters — with a Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MCM USV), responding to the Navy’s requirement for a remotely operated, towed mine detection capability.
According to Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Navy confirmed that the AN/AQS-24 met all primary government objectives during the demonstration, validating its performance when deployed from an unmanned platform. The integration is intended to improve operational safety and efficiency by reducing the need to place crewed assets in mine-threat environments while maintaining proven minehunting capability.
