magnetic anomaly detector [mag`ned·ik ǝ`näm·ǝ·lē di´tek·tǝr] ELECTROMAGNETISM A sensitive magnetometer carried at the end of a boom projecting from the tail of a patrol plane which can detect very small changes in the earth's magnetic field caused by a ferrous object, such as a submerged submarine; used to pinpoint a submarine's location, for effective deployment of suitable weapons. Abbreviated MAD. |