Textron Systems Advanced Systems recently declared that its Fleet-class Common Unmanned Surface Vessels (CUSV) has demonstrated its potential to efficiently carry out integrated unmanned mine-neutralization and mine-hunting operations at the Trident Warrior 2012 U.S. Navy Fleet Experiment, which took place from July 9 to 20, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The CUSV team accomplished mine warfare detect-to-engage scenarios in real-time on six individual instances. "Exercise" mines were identified and prosecuted in a minefield laid by the U.S. Navy by a single operator-controlled two CUSVs from a single control station.
MEDAL – based CUSV entered the mine danger area and autonomously adopted an L-3 Klein 5000 V2 Side Scan Sonar for mine hunting (day and night operations) on the suspected minefield. Harris SeaLancet RT-1944/U data links were equipped to the CUSVs, through which all sonar and vehicle control information were transmitted to an AAI Universal Command & Control Station (UCCS) on shore. By identifying and plotting a mine-like object onto UCCS geographical screen, the position information was relayed to second CUSV, followed by maneuvering the second CUSV to the mine danger area. Precise positioning will allow the adoption of ATLAS North America SeaFoxTM unmanned vehicle as well as tracking transducer for detection, investigation, and simulated mine neutralization.
Led by Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC), Trident Warrior achieved sponsorship grant from the U.S. Pacific Fleet and U.S. 3rd Fleet in partnership with the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 exercise. As part of NWDC's Fleet experimentation program, Trident Warrior encourages participants to practice maritime technologies and initiatives within operational environment for upgrading capabilities available to the fleet.
Execution of Trident Warrior 2012 drives Textron Systems' CUSV to combine over 1,000 total hours of in-water operation.
Source: http://www.textronsystems.com/