Mine Development

Naval mines continue to be a cost-effective way to deter or control adversary movements, including surface ships and submarines. Aerial deployment of mines is an expeditious and efficient way to deliver large numbers of mines to planned minefields. Major efforts under the Long Range Aerial Delivery Maritime Mine (LRADMM) program will yield increased capability for the entire QS Family of Mines are: 1) Quickstrike Extended Range (QS-ER) M-Code: M-Code GPS antijam capabilities will be integrated into the QS-ER guidance kit and wing assembly to increase precision placement capabilities for 2000lb mines in GPS-denied environments. 2) Quickstrike Long Range (QS-LR) Powered Delivery Vehicle: A powered delivery vehicle will be developed to carry an in-service Mk 62 500lb mine to water entries that are 300 nm+ downrange, significantly decreasing risk to the launch delivery platform. 3) Increased launch-platform integration: Integration work for QS-ER will start for B-2. Integration with F/A-18 E/F will start for QS-LR.

The Encapsulated Effector, Hammerhead, program complements existing shallow-water mines by providing maritime mining capability in deeper water depths. Based on the urgency of the requirement, the Hammerhead program utilizes Section 804 authority to streamline acquisition of an initial capability. The system uses existing kinetic payloads to engage enemy targets and provides a wide area of coverage per each weapon. The program uses a self-contained, propelled weapon to engage the target when a target is detected. The system uses modern sensing and processing technology to enable accurate targeting at increased range and maintains minefield resilience even as weapons are expended against targets. The result is expanded operating areas to restrict or deny adversary access to the intended area while using fewer weapons than traditional mines. Additional efforts include; transitioning an encapsulation system with different end effectors under the Compact Encapsulated Effector (C-ENCAP) future naval capability (FNC) that is managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Naval mines are used to deter or control adversary movements, including surface ships and submarines. Funding supports the capability to maintain effectiveness of mines facing new threat targets with increasing emphasis on major regional conflicts and near peer threats. The four major project areas are: 1) Quickstrike (QS) MOD 3: MOD 3 efforts improves effectiveness of existing mines against modern threats by using the programmable MK71 Target Detection Device (TDD). Through modeling and analysis, the TDD's target detections and responses are improved with optimized mine settings and firing algorithms. The development of the MK71 TDD supports minefield planning software improvements include new targeting algorithms, mine settings, and corresponding damage data for weapon /target pairs. 2) Quickstrike Extended Range (QS-ER): A guidance kit and a wing assembly is added to the (QS Family of Mine)s to enable precision placement, increased delivery ranges and reduced risk to the delivery platform. This aerial delivery development effort addresses capabilities required by a Joint Emergent Operational Needs Statement (JEONS). 3) Quickstrike Long Range (QS-LR): A powered delivery vehicle is added to the QS Family of Mines to increase the delivery range beyond that of QS-ER and further reduce the risk to the delivery platform. This aerial delivery development effort addresses capabilities required by a Joint Emergent Operational Needs Statement (JEONS). 4) Clandestine Delivered Mine: Clandestine Delivered Mine MK68 (CDM MOD 0) provides a required capability by converting legacy mining systems for delivery by Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (XLUUV) and/or alternate platform in support of JEONS. This capability allows access to contested environments and reduces risk by using unmanned platforms. Upgrades to CDM incorporate the programmable MK71 TDD and adds iterative command and control enhancements (MODs 1 and 2) through future upgrades for increased operational flexibility and safety for emplaced minefields. Additional efforts include transitioning an explosive section design into the CDM program that is in development under the Compact Encapsulated Effector (C-ENCAP) effort that is managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). In FY27 a mine launching system will begin development.

Project 9999: FY25 Congressional Add funds effort to demonstrate an air-delivered, long-range, powered, maritime mine solution for the Quickstrike Family of Mines.