Leidos ADC MK 5

DESCRIPTION

The Acoustic Device Countermeasure Mark 5 (ADC MK5) is a submarine-launched expendable countermeasure that defends a boat against acoustic-homing torpedoes. Leidos describes it as the US Navy''s next-generation torpedo countermeasure and as a "high-performance, intelligent micro-UUV". It is a 3-inch diameter device, ejected from a submarine''s internal signal ejectors. Rather than sitting passive, it generates noise to deceive the sonar guidance of an incoming torpedo and to spoof the acoustic returns of active sonar pings. Reporting on the programme describes the devices being launched in groups of up to six, some holding station as broadcast jammers while others move as decoys - which is what the mobile, self-propelled framing refers to. ADC MK5 is the product of the US Navy''s Next-Generation Countermeasure (NGCM) programme and replaces the existing ADC MK 3. Leidos won the initial development award on 13 September 2018, worth 13.93 million US dollars, under a contract worth nearly 36 million if all options are exercised - a two-year base period plus three one-year options. Sparton teamed with Leidos Maritime Systems on design, development, fabrication, integration, testing and low-rate initial production. Leidos states the device can be adapted for applications beyond submarine defence. No endurance, speed or length figures are published.

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