The AN/ALQ-220 Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS) minesweeping system currently under development for the U.S. Navy is being configured for installation on the MH-60S helicopters. The helicopters will deploy from surface combatants (CV/CVN), large deck amphibious vessels or shore locations. It will provide a rapid response sweeping capability against bottom and moored acoustic and magnetic or combination acoustic/magnetic influence mines. It will also provide the ability for warfare commanders to effectively and expeditiously address the mine threat with resources available in theater.

OASIS consists of a towed body designed to interface with the MH-60S helicopter. Its compact dimensions yet powerful influence output makes OASIS a viable option on various airborne platforms, such as the EH-101, as well as manned and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). OASIS provides the MCM Commander with a very high area coverage rate in a small, lightweight package with minimal impact on the host platform.
The Mission Need Statement (MNS) for Mine Countermeasures identifies the primary shortfall in MCM to be the timeliness with which MCM operations can be completed. Naval forces must have freedom to maneuver to bring overwhelming force to neutralize the enemy’s offensive threat and overpower enemy defenses. These defenses, especially sea mines, can pose a significant threat to Naval and Expeditionary forces and to their ability to achieve battle space dominance and power projection. The task of neutralizing enemy sea mines must be accomplished as quickly and efficiently as possible using all available assigned MCM forces in theater and if necessary, additional supporting assets.

In regions where minehunting is not practical due to adverse environmental conditions (i.e., muddy bottom or high bottom clutter), it is essential that forward deployed naval forces have an organic airborne influence minesweeping capability. OASIS provides this high-speed influence sweeping capability by generating and imparting underwater magnetic and acoustic signature fields capable of sweeping a wide range of magnetic, acoustic, and combination magnetic/acoustic influence threat mines at tactically significant water depths. This capability is of critical importance in littoral zones, Q-routes, straits, choke points, fleet operating areas, amphibious objective areas, and whenever there is insufficient time to support minehunting operations.

OASIS is subdivided into six major conceptual components: the Towed Body, the Magnetic Influence Subsystem, the Acoustic Influence Subsystem, the Control/Monitoring and Power Subsystem, the Common Console (CC) OASIS Software, and the Tow Cable/CC Interface. A conceptual block diagram of the OASIS and MH-60S interface is provided. The towed body houses the magnetic and acoustic subsystems and mechanical assemblies. The towed body is hydrodynamically stable in all control modes while being towed in a straight course and when the aircraft is making turns. The towed body measures its tow depth and its height above the bottom. It uses this data to optimize its position in the water column, thereby maximizing effectiveness. The tow cable provides power distribution for all of the components in the towed body and provides communication with the CC. The towed body has a means of being located should it be jettisoned during the tow portion of a mission.