Minesweeping Warfare Capability has Reached New Stage

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The development of a system designed to operate as part of the US littoral combat ship (LCS) mine countermeasure (MCM) package has reached milestone C. The US Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program consists of a mine countermeasure unmanned surface vessel (USV) and a towed minesweeping package that can detect magnetic, acoustic and combination mines. 

The UISS is one of the counter-mine warfare systems that will enable the littoral combat ship to perform mine warfare sweep missions. The UISS program provides rapid wide-area mine clearance in a small, lightweight package, according to militaryaerospace.com.

Although being designed for the LCS the systems can operate from other vessels or be launched from the shore.

UISS is the US Navy’s first USV program of record and is capable of carrying interchangeable payloads for different mission sets.

Based on Textron Systems’ Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV, the system will soon enter low-rate initial production (LRIP) after receiving the milestone C decision.

The US Navy said it would soon exercise options to procure the first three LRIP systems under an existing contract with Textron, as reported by naval-technology.com.

Development testing of the system concluded last November, paving the way for the milestone C decision. 

Delivery of the first LRIP UISS systems is set for 2021. In trials, LCS detachment sailors tested shore-based launching and retrieval of the USV, operated the system, and carried out command and control, mission planning, and post-mission analysis. USV has also completed integration trials with Littoral Combat Ships and other undisclosed vessels.