Raytheon has been awarded two contracts for the AN/AQS-22 airborne low-frequency sonar (ALFS) for the US Navy’s MH-60R multimission helicopter.

The $115.7m contracts were awarded by the US Naval Air Systems Command and Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Strategic Acquisition.

Under the first contract, worth $59.7m, Raytheon will manufacture, integrate, test and deliver ALFS systems and also provide data and weapons replaceable assemblies for systems and helicopter maintenance trainer assets.

The second contract, valued at $56m, will see the company provide spares for fleet-deployed systems.

ALFS provides critical undersea warfare mission support capabilities, including submarine detection, tracking, localisation, classification, acoustic intercept, underwater communication and environmental data collection.

US Navy Rear Admiral Steven R Eastburg said the sensor provided an essential capability and was the centrepiece of airborne anti-submarine warfare missions.