Surface Mine Countermeasures

The Mine Warfare Planning and Analysis project consists of two projects, the Mine Warfare and Environmental Decision Aids Library Enterprise Architecture (MEDAL EA) and the Mine Warfare Integrated Synthetic Trainer (MIST). MEDAL EA is the U.S. Navy's single MIW tactical decision support system for integrated mission planning, evaluation, and situational awareness. It provides mine warfare planning and evaluation tools and databases to mine countermeasures (MCM) commanders and is employed at the unit level to perform MCM sortie planning and evaluation. MEDAL EA is a family of systems, comprised of the following three components: MINEnet Global (MNG), MINEnet Tactical (MNT), and Minefield Planning (MFP). MINEnet Global is a shore-based website that provides MIW waterspace awareness functionality to support Navy non-MIW forces. MINEnet Global provides downloadable reference databases, MIW reference publications and links to MIW information. The MINEnet Tactical component is a software application which provides MCM tactical planning, situational awareness and post mission evaluation capabilities. Minefield Planning is a tactical software application which provides commanders the ability to plan and assess offensive, defensive, and protective minefields based on oceanographic and mine performance data and user specified objectives. Depending on user need, MEDAL EA is networked or stand-alone and is either deployed on dedicated laptop computers or installed on the unit's/command's native computer resources. Mine Warfare Integrated Synthetic Trainer (MIST) is a synthetic training aid that enables trainers to lead MIW staff and Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs) through end-to-end MCM simulations.

The Mine Hunt Systems project contains resources for systems, subsystems, and sensors integrated for use with the Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MCM USV) for mine detection, classification, localization, identification, and neutralization capabilities. Research, development, test, and evaluation efforts are for increasing capability by decreasing time required to conduct Mine Countermeasures (MCM) operations, ensuring low risk to naval and commercial vessels, and removing the man from the minefield. Increased capability includes conducting minefield reconnaissance (mine density and location) at high area search rates, improving detection capability, decreasing sensor false alarm rates, and reducing post-mission analysis time for detection, classification, and identification. The AN/AQS-20C is a mine hunting and identification system with sensors housed in an underwater tow body. The AN/AQS-20C integrates the Wideband Forward Looking Sonar (WBFLS), multifunction Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS), and Digital Gap Fill Sonar (DGFS) for the detection, classification and localization of bottom, close- tethered, volume targets. Integration of the Electro-Optic Identification (EOID) sensor enables identification of bottom targets. The system can be deployed from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) as part of the MCM Mission Package (MP) or can be deployed from other Vessels of Opportunity (VOO). The MCM USV is the tow platform for the AN/ AQS-20C. Materiel reliability, obsolescence, and performance Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) efforts continue beyond FY 2027. In FY 2022, the AN/AQS-20 Program completed DT/OT with MCM USV, and supported the MCM Mission Package (MP) IOT&E. Due to successful completion of DT/OT for the AN/AQS-20, Initial Operating Capability was declared in March of FY 2023. In FY 2026 and FY 2027 the AN/AQS-20 program will continue development of Automated Target Recognition (ATR), using Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms and ensuring compliance with cybersecurity requirements, resolve system obsolescence and assess performance. Additional improvements are in development based on MCM MP IOT&E and MCM USV DT/OT results. Offshore integration and test will verify product development efforts, and design upgrades due to obsolescence.