Northrop orders counter-mine system pods

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EDGEWOOD, N.Y., July 25 (UPI) -- Part of the counter-mine system to be used on U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships are being produced by CPI Aerostructures.

The New York manufacturer said it will produce four structural housings for the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System package under a contract awarded it by Northrop Grumman.

Northrop recently received a contract modification from the Navy for law-rate initial production for the countermeasure package.

The contract from Northrop is worth $1 million, CPI Aero said, and deliveries will begin the middle of next year.

Northrop Grumman's ALMDS is for rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of anti-ship mines in coastal waters, harbors, confined straits, choke points and amphibious assault areas. It is mounted on an MH-60S helicopter operating from an LCS and uses pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers.

CPI Aero's structural housing, which is pressurized, holds the ALMDS laser and electronics.

CPI Aero said it has delivered 10 ALMDS pod structural housings to Northrop Grumman for the first three LRIP orders.