Military LIDAR goes into production

This story released by the Naval Sea Systems Command talks about a the new Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). This new system, to be mounted in the new Knighthawk (MH-60S) helicopters, uses a blue-green LIDAR system to detect sea mines at or slightly below the surface.

This is the first production military application of LIDAR that I know about, and I hope it pans out. The ability to quickly sweep harbor and littoral areas of low-tech surface mines is a valuable capablility.