LCS & its Q-20C MCM sonar

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - After completing developmental testing in February, the Navy is one step closer to delivering the advanced acoustic and electro-optic sensing capabilities of the AN/AQS-20C (Q-20C) towed mine-hunting sonar to the fleet. Q-20C will detect, localize and classify bottom, close-tethered, moored, and volume-moored mines, according to Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City’s (NSWCPC) Lead Project Engineer Joe Thomas. It operates as part of the Littoral Combat Ship’s mine-counter measures (MCM) mission package. This sensor, when deployed by the MCM unmanned surface vehicle (USV), will help to clear minefields. The system is to be integrated with its intended tow platform, the MCM USV, in FY 2020. NSWCPC is considered the nation’s premier technical center for MCM. (Source: NSWCPC 04/08/19)