Navy orders mine-sweeping system from ITT Exelis

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VAN NUYS, Calif., April 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has given ITT Exelis an award to supply it with an MK 105 Mod 4 airborne minesweeping system.

The contract for one system is worth more than $10 million and the system will be for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division in Panama City, Fla.

"Exelis mine countermeasure systems enable safe passage of military and commercial vessels through global waterways, ports and harbors," said Dave Prater, vice president and general manager of the Exelis radar, reconnaissance and undersea systems business.

"With our affordable sweep solutions, our customers can continue to stay ahead of modern sea mine threats, which have become more lethal and sophisticated over the years."

The MK 105 Mod 4 is towed by helicopter. It has twin magnetic tails, which are pulled from a sled for open-electrode magnetic sweeps and detonation of mines. It was first deployed by the Navy in 1972.

"The Exelis MK 105 Mod 4 system will provide significant reliability and performance improvements, increasing the U.S. Navy's capability to conduct quick response, high-speed airborne mine counter-measures missions for the next decade," the company said.

Work on the contract will be performed by Exelis' radar, reconnaissance and undersea systems business area in Florida.