Northrop Grumman, Genohco to Collaborate on S. Korea's Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Program

Northrop Grumman and Genohco signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on August 8, regarding the Republic of Korea's Mine Countermeasures Helicopter (KMCH) program.

The agreement supports Northrop Grumman's industrial cooperation with the Republic of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and outlines Genohco's role as a supplier.

This MOU follows Korea Aerospace Industries' (KAI) 2023 contract, where Northrop Grumman will provide Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) solutions and technical support for the KMCH program's Engineering, Manufacturing, and Design phase. The mission of ALMDS is to detect, classify, and localize floating and near-surface moored mines. It also provides accurate target geo-location to support the follow-on neutralization of the detected mines.

Under the agreement signed Thursday, Genohco will support the manufacturing of ALMDS hardware components.

To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered 24 ALMDS units to the U.S. Navy and four units to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The AN/AES-1 ALMDS detects, classifies, and locates floating and near-surface moored mines. It can be mounted on various helicopter platforms, enabling untethered day or night operations with high area search rates. ALMDS also provides accurate target geo-location for follow-on mine neutralization.

Genohco, a South Korean company, offers comprehensive support to its customers in various business segments, including satellite communications, aerospace and electronic warfare.