CUSV enters water-based testing
On-water testing has begun for the fourth-generation Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV), Textron Systems Unmanned Systems announced on 11 January.
The company is developing the CUSV for the US Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) programme under a contract received in 2014.
With the UISS programme design, build and component test phase completed in late 2016, Textron embarked on the systems level integration and test (I&T) phase, with dockside and on-water testing in Lake Pontchartrain near its Marine and Land Systems facility in Louisiana.
The I&T phase includes functional testing of the system’s integrated generators, engines, datalinks, as well as on-water manoeuvrability testing. The company will move into builders’ trials upon completion of I&T and then formal testing to validate system functionality with the US Navy later in 2017.
Wayne Prender, vice president of control and surface systems, said: ‘We are excited to begin system level testing of our first UISS system with mine countermeasure capabilities for the US Navy. Unmanned technology has come such a long way, and we are looking forward to beginning to apply our critical technology to protect our naval warfighters.’
The fourth-generation CUSV is a multi-mission unmanned surface vehicle with a large, configurable payload bay. The vessel is capable of carrying multiple payloads, including side-scan sonar, mine neutralization, nonlethal weapons, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors.
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