Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System
Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System , or LAMPS for short, is the name of helicopters commonly used in the United States Navy for anti -submarine hunting purposes .
The distinguishing feature is the special anti -submarine equipment consisting of a towed sonar or magnetic anomaly detector (MAD), surface radar , sonar buoys and an armament consisting of light torpedoes or anti-ship missiles . LAMPS helicopters operate from medium-sized to large warships such as frigates , destroyers and cruisers and are primarily intended to provide support in anti-submarine hunts or to support joint action with anti-submarine vessels.
The types used are:
- SH-2 Seasprite (LAMPS I, decommissioned)
- SH-60 Seahawk (LAMPS III)
The plans for a version II were discarded.