Page 13 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine

JOINING HANDS FOR SUCCESS

Several defence forces are collaborating with
different unmanned surface vehicle manu-
facturers to develop countermeasure-based
unmanned systems that can be deployed across
the armed forces and carry out countermea-
sure operations independently. For instance,
in April 2021, the US Navy awarded a con-
tract to Textron Inc. for the development of an
© Elbit Systems Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) for
mine warfare applications. In addition, in 2020,
the US Navy announced that their spending is
NEW USVS EMERGE expected to be approximately US$ 12 billion for
unmanned aircraft, surface vessels, and under-
Further, different types of new unmanned surface vehicles are being water systems from 2021 to 2025.
introduced to the military forces. In May 2022, the US Navy announced
that it had created a separate USV division—Unmanned Surface UISS is the Navy’s first unmanned surface
Vessel Division (USVDIV) One— for the integration of unmanned sys- vehicle (USV) program of record, designed for
tems into the US Navy. This unit is formed for managing unmanned the demanding maritime environment. It pro-
surface vehicle experimentation for medium and large unmanned vides unmanned mine counter measure and
surface vehicles such as the Sea Hunter and the Sea Hawk, both of capabilities using interchangeable payloads
which will participate in anti-submarine warfare missions. Moreover, and advanced sensors. UISS completed Navy
with the help of this division, the US Navy, in August 2022, announced developmental test and operational assessment
that for the first time, it had cleared a major acquisition milestone in 2020. The UISS is the first in the Navy’s USV
on a USV, allowing it to begin operating in the fleet. portfolio to reach this milestone. UISS is part
of a comprehensive Mine Counter Measure
The US Navy conducted manned-unmanned teams experiments at Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MCM USV) mission
the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 exercise that enabled and is designed to be deployed from the Littoral
the Navy to decide the future of the Medium Unmanned Surface Combat Ship (LCS) and vessels of opportunity.
Vehicle in naval fleets. With four USV prototypes under the helm of
the recently created USVDIV One, the Navy paired the platforms with Textron Systems Corporation, which is devel-
destroyers at the RIMPAC to experiment with and better understand oping the UISS program, said it is based on its
how the four USVs all work in conjunction with manned warships. The Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV).
New USVDIV command served as the bridge between the program The CUSV as a multi-mission unmanned sur-
office and the fleet for that feedback. face vehicle, has the capability of carrying
multiple payloads including side-scan sonar,
The USVs at RIMPAC included Ghost Fleet Overlord test ships Nomad mine neutralization, non-lethal weapons, and
and Ranger, which were originally developed by the Pentagon’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
Strategic Capabilities Office. Sea Hunter, which was developed by (ISR) sensors.
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and its
sister ship, Seahawk, also took part in the exercise. Sea Hunter and Similarly, L3Harris Technologies was awarded
Seahawk are considered medium-sized USVs. Seahawk is the des- a contract by the U.S. Navy for the Medium
ignation of the second Sea Hunter MDUSV being operated by the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) program, the
Navy, also built by Leidos. The company described the Seahawk first program for an unmanned surface vehi-
as a long-range, high-availability autonomous surface vessels with cle to support the Navy’s Distributed Maritime
a composite trimaran hull. “Seahawk is designed to operate with Operations strategy. The US$35 million initial
little human involvement, thus providing a forward-deployed and award was part of a US$281 million program that
rapid-response asset in the global maritime surveillance network,” includes a prototype and options for a total of
according to Leidos. nine MUSVs.

USVDIV One will continue to oversee the medium and large unmanned L3Harris will integrate the company’s ASView
surface vessels including the Sea Hunter and its sister vessel, the autonomy technology into a purpose-built
Sea Hawk. The division will focus on USV experimentation and fleet 195-foot commercially derived vehicle from a
advocacy for the surface force. The division will be a cornerstone in facility along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. The
MUSV will provide intelligence, surveillance and
building the foundational knowledge required for sailors to operate reconnaissance to the fleet while maneuvering
and maintain the USV fleet and spearhead the development of the autonomously and complying with interna-
processes required for USV operations and sustainment.
tional Collision Regulations, even in operational
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