Remote Mine Hunting System Installed on USS Bainbridge

Sea Technology, Feb 2007

Last month, the U.S. Navy completed installation of an AN/WLD 1(V)1 remote minehunting system (RMS) on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. According to the Navy, this installation marks the delivery of the first RMS to be installed on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. This installation is in preparation for a technical evaluation scheduled for later this month.

"This installation marks the delivery of a key mine warfare capability being provided to the fleet. Sailors now have an organic unmanned mine warfare system that will allow them to detect and classify mines from a safe distance," said Gary Humes, program manager for the Mine Warfare Program Office in Program Executive Office Littoral and Mine Warfare. "RMS allows the Navy to keep the man out of the minefield and send a remotely operated vehicle into the danger zone instead."

The RMS uses a semi-submersible, unmanned remote multi-mission vehicle that tows a variable depth sensor to detect and classify bottom and moored mines. The Navy notes that other key elements of the system include line-of-sight and over-the-horizon real-time data links, a shipboard launch and recovery subsystem and a software segment that integrates AN/WLD-1(V)1 into the ship's AN/SQQ-89(V)15 combat system.

RMS can now be organic to a carrier battle group or expeditionary strike group, and can forward deploy with the fleet to be on-call when needed. It has been designed to meet fleet demand for beyond line-of-sight mine reconnaissance against bottom and moored mines in deep and shallowwater regions of anticipated operating areas. The semi-autonomous system will detect, classify and identify mines and record their precise location for avoidance and/or subsequent neutralization.

"We are leveraging unmanned systems technology to stay ahead of the threat," said Capt. Joe Spitz, deputy program manager. Mine Warfare Program Office. /st/

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