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  The AN/AQS-14A Side-Looking Sonar, or "Q-14 Alpha" as it is commonly called, is an underwater towed body containing a high resolution, side-looking, multibeam sonar system used for minehunting along the ocean bottom. Developed by Northrop Grumman Oceanic Products, this rapidly-deployable system provides real-time sonar images to operators in the aircraft to locate, classify, mark and record mine-like objects and underwater terrain features. The AQS-14A has an active, stabilized underwater vehicle, equipped with advanced multiple-beam side-looking sonar. The MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter tows the underwater body by a small-diameter electromechanical cable. On board the helicopter, an operator can view the underwater image and identify objects on a video monitor while recording the data on Exabyte AME digital tapes for post mission analysis. Operators actually fly the device underwater, actively controlling the depth or altitude of the device in the water column. Once located, the exact coordinates of mine-like objects can be used by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) personnel to reacquire and neutralize the mine. The AN/AQS-14A system includes a digital recorder-reproducer, high-resolution 19-inch color video monitor, and a navigation and acoustic control processor.
Special thanks to John Marks for snippet images. | |||||||||
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