Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company and CAE will collaborate to deliver the CAE Magnetic Anomaly Detection-Extended Role (MAD-XR) system for installation aboard US Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
“MH-60R operators now have the option to significantly upgrade their anti-submarine warfare capability using a small, removeable device that senses changes in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by large metallic objects in the water,” Sikorsky Maritime Systems vice president, Tish Rourke, said.
“With recent upgrades to mission computer software, this non-acoustic digital MAD sensor can easily be installed into any operational MH-60R aircraft, and can operate independently or collaboratively with other mission systems, such as the aircraft’s sonobuoys or long-range active dipping sonar.”
Designed and built by CAE, and integrated with the aircraft’s primary mission computer by Sikorsky, the passive digital MAD sensor will give the maritime helicopter a new tool to detect and track submarines below the sea surface.
CAE’s MAD-XR possesses highly sensitive magnetometers and a processor/interface unit weighing less than 20 pounds (9kg) including cabling and mounting hardware. An audio alert informs the crew of a detected object, while the display provides contact and range details. The device can be installed inside an MH-60R aircraft tail cone without any permanent airframe modification, and can be quickly removed and installed on another MH-60R aircraft as operationally needed.
General Manager Sikorsky Australia, Cliff Kyle, welcomed the significant capability announcement and commended the Royal Australian Navy in being the first MH-60R operator to install the digital MAD capability on its fleet of MH-60R aircraft.
“Through our partnership with the Royal Australian Navy, Sikorsky Australia’s workforce look forward to playing their role in fielding and sustaining this important and cutting-edge capability, which further strengthens Australia’s MH-60R Seahawks’ fleet lethality," Cliff affirmed.
The AN/ASQ-81 Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) sensor installed on former US Navy SH-60B helicopters was externally mounted and attached to the aircraft via a cable and reeling machine, weighed 90 pounds (approx. 40kg) and trailed in the air a short distance behind the aircraft.