Group : Medium Caliber Cannons
Status : Active
Also Known As : AN/AWS-2, Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Raytheon
Total Production : ?

The RAMICS (Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System) system has been designed for rapidly clearance of floating, near surface and shallow bottom sea mines supporting US naval forces. The RAMICS will be installed on the MH-60S helicopter. The RAMICS targeting system uses a blue-green laser that penetrates the water column to locate and accurately target a shallow water mine. The laser aboard the helicopter looks at the mine from more than one direction eliminating false alarms. The mine coordinates are passed to the RAMICS controller, who automatically direct and holds the stabilized rapid fire gun on the target. The stabilized gun usually fires a burst of 20-50 30mm rounds. The 30mm projectile shape and speed produce a cavitation envelope in which the projectile rides at very low drag. The RAMICS projectile strikes the mine at high velocity penetrating the mine and releasing a reactive material into the explosive. Positive evidence of the reaction is visible at the surface, providing assurance that the mine has been destroyed. The RAMICS system can destroy mines up to 91 meters depth.