home Technology C4I Successful Sensor-to-Shooter Demonstration from USV

Successful Sensor-to-Shooter Demonstration from USV

Oct 26, 2021

photo-illus.-Puma-3-by-Wikimedia — 160519-N-GP524-056 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 19, 2016) – Quartermaster 3rd Class Greg Flippen launches a RQ-20A Puma AE (All Environment) unmanned aircraft system from the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55). Stout is currently deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bill Dodge/Released)

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The US Navy and UK Royal Navy have successfully executed a maritime sensor-to-shooter demonstration culminating in the firing of an AeroVironment Switchblade 300 tactical precision-guided missile from an experimental unmanned surface vessel (USV).

The demonstration proved that this sensor-to-shooter solution dramatically elevates operator situational awareness, reduces engagement timelines and reduces the chances of mistargeting, according to the company.

Part of a US/UK Interoperability to Interchangeability (I2I) initiative using unmanned/uncrewed systems, the S2S capability demonstration formed part of last month’s NATO ‘REP(MUS) 21′ exercise off Portugal – an annual exercise designed to give NATO allies and partners an opportunity to field and evaluate new uncrewed and autonomous maritime technologies, according to janes.com.

The Switchblade 300 weapon was targeted using information from an AeroVironment Puma 3 AE (All Environment) unmanned aerial system (UAS), a tactical vehicle equipped with both an electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) camera.

The S2S test event was designed to demonstrate the interoperability potential of multiple Command and Control Systems/Common Control Systems (CCS) to pass missions, C2 authority, and ISR/targeting data, enabling U.S. and U.K. common mission planning and execution systems in coordinated mission profiles.