The U.S. Navy awarded Textron Systems $13 million to exercise an option for an additional low rate initial production (LRIP) unit for the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) unmanned surface vehicle (USV) program. UISS is based on Textron’s Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV), a multi-mission surface vehicle designed to operate as a mine countermeasure (MCM), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform among others. Work for today’s contract is expected to be completed by September 2022.
The Unmanned Influence Sweep System is designed to operate as part of the littoral combat ship (LCS) MCM package. It consists of a mine countermeasure USV and a towed minesweeping package that can detect magnetic, acoustic and combination mines. Although being designed for the LCS the systems can operate from other vessels or be launched from the shore. Testing deviated from the approved test plan due to high seas that limited UISS operations and compressed the limited time available for completing the OA. Operational testers completed all planned UISS missions and collected target data .
Textron Systems’ CUSV system continues to feature the maritime version of our proven, common command-and-control system — a trusted system that has successfully supported unmanned aircraft during more than one million flight hours. Whether in a mine sweeping and neutralization role; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); monitoring or protection, fourth-generation CUSV is a mature, multi-mission and multi-payload capable vehicle with significant in-water experience. Compliant with NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586, Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) protocol and LCS communication architecture
