Northrop Grumman Delivers First Airborne Laser Mine Detection System to South Korea

Northrop Grumman’s self-contained design allows ALMDS to be installed on several aircraft types | Photo: U.S. Navy

Northrop Grumman has delivered the first Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) pod to the Republic of Korea as part of an agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) under the Korean Mine Countermeasures Helicopter (KMCH) program.

The contract, signed in 2023, includes the supply of ALMDS technology and technical support for the program’s engineering, manufacturing, and design phase. The system will be integrated with the Republic of Korea Navy’s mine countermeasure helicopters to enhance detection and classification of naval mines in coastal waters.

The AN/AES-1 ALMDS is designed to detect, classify, and locate floating and near-surface moored mines using laser-based sensors. The system operates without a towed sensor, allowing for faster area coverage and deployment from various helicopter platforms. It can perform in both day and night conditions, providing target geolocation data to support mine neutralization operations.

The system is currently in operational use with the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered 24 ALMDS units to the U.S. Navy and four to Japan.

Janice Zilch, vice president of multi-domain command and control programs at Northrop Grumman, said the delivery reflects ongoing cooperation with Korean industry under the KMCH program. “Our collaboration with KAI shows our commitment to advancing defense capabilities together with Korean industry,” she said.

Manufactured in the United States, the ALMDS represents a part of the Republic of Korea’s broader modernization efforts in mine countermeasures. The system will support operations in littoral and coastal environments, where rapid detection and neutralization of naval mines are critical for maritime security and safe navigation.