Northrop Grumman reached a deal with Korean technology conglomerate Hanwha this week to provide helicopter-mounted Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems (ALMDS) in support of the Republic of Korea‘s (ROK) Mine Countermeasures Program (KMCH).
Mounted onto various helicopter platforms, the AN/AES-1 ALMDS detects, locates, and classifies floating and near-surface moored mines. The system is capable of day or night operations and delivers accurate geolocations for any identified target, enabling follow-up neutralization operations.
Northrop Grumman has a long history of working with the Republic of Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, providing high-end defensive capabilities to the country, which is located on a peninsula alongside its hostile neighbors in North Korea.
These capabilities help to mitigate the threat of a North Korean stockpile, which is estimated to contain as many as 50,000 Soviet-era sea mines.
Northrop Grumman ALMDS
A Northrop Grumman subsidiary, Cutting Edge Optronics, designed the high-power laser that drives ALMDS. The pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers housed in an external pod image the near-surface area for mines.
The system does not require towed equipment, unlike some similar solutions, allowing the detection operation to be entirely airborne. Northrop Grumman has already delivered the ALMDS system to the US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
“Industry collaborations with companies such as Hanwha and KAI are key to Northrop Grumman’s approach to technology development globally. Our team is committed to delivering advanced solutions to meet the security needs of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense,” said Janice Zilch, vice president of multi-domain command and control programs at Northrop Grumman.
Established in 1977, Hanwha Systems quickly entered defense work with its first pair of night goggles. Today, it has grown into Korea’s largest defense company, manufacturing, developing, and mass-producing defense systems for the defense and civil sectors. Northrop Grumman is one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense contractors.
While this is the pair’s first time working together on ALMDS systems, Northrop Grumman and Hanwha have a history of collaboration. Northrop partnered with Hanwha Defense Australia to produce the Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster Chain Gun for integration into the Hanwha Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle for Australia’s Land 400 program.
Republic of Korea’s Mine Countermeasures Program
Experts have identified sea mines as a significant concern in any potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula, not just to sink ROK ships but to deny supply ships access to the country’s ports. In 2015, the US and ROK began a series of marine mine countermeasure exercises called Exercise Clear Horizon. Subsequent years saw expanding international partners participating in various mine clearance training activities in Korean waters.
In 2023, ROK awarded Kangnam Co., Ltd. a $1.44 billion contract to construct new sea vessels for the Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) Project. The project is expected to complete the design phase in 2025, ahead of a 2029 delivery. For the last decade, the ROK has emphasized mine clearance activities. The ROK primarily relied on ship-based capabilities in the most recent US/ROK mine clearance exercise, held in April 2024. Still, it deployed one helicopter as part of the training mission, while the US deployed three.
The North Korean Mine Threat
Mines were an effective weapon for the North Korean forces in the Korean War (1950-1953), and their continued effectiveness in the Russia-Ukraine conflict only further indicates the likelihood North Korea would turn to their aging stockpile in a military engagement.
Detonation triggers can range from contact to acoustics to remote control, while the mines may be anchored or free-floating. Their low cost and effectiveness as an area denial tool make them an attractive option to a poor country facing a more technologically advanced foe.
Presently, analysis conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has suggested that North Korea likely possesses effective mine-laying capabilities.
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.