BAE Systems has secured a contract from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to help develop a new helicopter-based mine neutralisation capability for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), the UK company announced on 12 June 2023.
Under the GBP 7.4 M (EUR 8.61 M) contract BAE Systems will adapt its Archerfish system to provide a complete mine countermeasure (MCM) capability, along with engineering expertise and support, to KAI and the ROKN.
Already in service with the US Navy, Archerfish is a remote-controlled underwater mine neutraliser that can be launched and operated from surface ships and underwater vehicles as well as helicopters.
Archerfish reduces the time needed to identify and neutralise targets and eliminates the need to put divers into the water.
Under the ROKN contract new features will be developed for the Archerfish technology, including a lightweight launcher and a new data connection link between the aircraft and the Archerfish vehicle.
Archerfish is manufactured in the UK at BAE Systems’ Broad Oak facility in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and its Hillend facility in Dunfermline, Fife.
Peter Felstead
