AN/AQS-20A

The AN/AQS-20A is a <a href="/facts/Sonar/0Rg2G40e">sonar</a> mine countermeasure detection system, developed by <a href="/facts/Raytheon/wGGxdMoD">Raytheon</a>. The system was initially tested for use on the <a href="/facts/MH-60S/SFMczsPF">MH-60S</a> and <a href="/facts/MH-53_Pave_Low/6AQ4s5Lq">MH-53E</a> helicopters and as part of the mission package for the <a href="/facts/Littoral_combat_ship/Cf65xpI3">littoral combat ships</a> (LCS) and some <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy</a> <a href="/facts/Destroyer/bkYL7bI8">destroyers</a> of the <a href="/facts/Arleigh_Burke-class_destroyer/ELnEhwJL">Arleigh Burke class</a>. However, the <a href="/facts/Chief_of_Naval_Operations/IP7Skh60">Chief of Naval Operations</a> excluded the system from use on helicopter assets in March 2012, and only one destroyer has been outfitted with the specific mission package as of April 2009. The AN/AQS-20 <a href="/facts/Naval_mine/jo9uVY9U">naval mine</a> hunting sonar systems will be employed for deeper mine threats. The "Q-20", as it is commonly called, is an underwater towed body containing a high resolution, <a href="/facts/Sidescan_sonar/jpSE1zxw">side-looking</a>, multi-beam sonar system used for minehunting along the ocean bottom. This rapidly deployable system provides real-time sonar images to operators to locate, classify, mark and record mine-like objects and underwater terrain features. The AQS-20 has an active, stabilized underwater vehicle, equipped with advanced multiple-beam side-looking sonar. The underwater body is towed via a small-diameter electromechanical cable, while an operator can view the underwater image and identify objects on a video monitor while recording the data on <a href="/facts/S-VHS/RYzE1gnN">S-VHS</a> digital tapes for post mission analysis. Operators actually "fly" the device underwater, controlling the depth of the device the same way that an <a href="/facts/Airplane/81161IpU">airplane</a> controls its altitude. Once located, the exact coordinates of mine-like objects can be used by <a href="/facts/Explosive_ordnance_disposal/FQJI2y4b">explosive ordnance disposal</a> (EOD) personnel to reacquire and neutralize the mine.
In 2016, the Navy canceled the program after purchasing ten systems; the ten systems that had been purchased are slated to be competed against Textron Systems' <a href="/facts/Fleet-class_unmanned_surface_vessel/LAREA7lN">Fleet-class unmanned surface vessel</a> system and the <a href="/facts/Knifefish_(robot)/TlscPz6I">Knifefish</a> unmanned underwater vehicle by General Dynamics and Bluefin Robotics.

AN/AQS-20A open-in-new

AN/AQS-20A