U.S. Navy Fact Sheet

AN/ALQ-220 Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS) 

Description
Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep - OASIS is a towed system to be utilized in conjunction with other mine warfare systems to provide safe passage through critical theater zones for U.S. Naval vessels. The primary role of the system is to mimic the acoustic and magnetic signature of ships and engage mine threats. OASIS is a torpedo shaped system that is powered via a Power Distribution Unit (PDU) within the MH60S helicopter and is deployed and recovered via a fairing based common tow cable. As the system is powered, it is able to create magnetic field through energizing a forward electrode on the OASIS towed body and an aft electrode located on a sweep cable extending from OASIS. The acoustic signature is created via water passing through two cavitation devices on the rear sides of the tow body. As the system is able to create both a magnetic and acoustic signature, specific mines threats are engaged and detonated at a safe distance away from the helicopter.

Features
The OASIS system has several features that enable it to be quite effective in engaging potential threats. The system communicates with the MH60S helicopter via common OAMCM tow cable to the common console. The tow body can be deployed to different depths as necessary to engage anticipated mines for that region. The system is designed to operate within the LCS concept of operations for influence sweeping and will be fielded in conjuction with deployment of the LCS MCM MP. While other systems serve to hunt, detect and classify mines, the OASIS furthers ensures the area is safe by engaging mines that may have been hard to detect based on the environmental conditions. OASIS will sweep volume, tethered, and bottom influence mines at high speed with minimal risk to personnel and equipment.

Background
The OASIS program will satisfy the U.S. Navy’s need for a rapid, wide area coverage mine clearance capability to neutralize magnetic/acoustic influence mines. In support of threat analysis conducted to address gaps in mine warfare capability, OASIS will target acoustic, magnetic and acoustic/magnetic combination mine types only. The war-fighting payoff will be a new resource, providing LCS commanders with a rapid, organic mine clearance capability against magnetic/acoustic influence mines to support the objectives of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) commanders. This capability is critical to support operations in the littoral zones, confined straits, choke points, and Amphibious Objective Area (AOA) in situations where the LCS Baseline Analysis has shown that organic mine hunting systems alone cannot achieve required mine clearance levels without being augmented by minesweeping. OASIS is one of the Organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures (OAMCM)family of systems , which together are positioned to support future joint operations as part of the LCS Mine Countermeasures Mission Package (MCM MP), using the MH-60S as the tow platform.