Tag Archives: CUSV

Navy Pushing to Maintain 2023 USV Program of Record Timeline

Navy Pushing to Maintain 2023 USV Program of Record Timeline

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A Ghost Fleet Overlord test vessel takes part in a capstone demonstration during the conclusion of Phase I of the program in September. Two existing commercial fast supply vessels were converted into unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for Overlord testing, which will play a vital role in informing the Navy’s new classes of USVs. US Navy photo.

Several Navy program officials and resource sponsors today outlined how they’ll spend the next couple years giving Congress enough confidence in unmanned surface and underwater vehicles to allow the service to move from prototyping into programs of record. Read More →

The State of LCS: Navy Moving to Add Firepower, Capability to Both Classes

The State of LCS: Navy Moving to Add Firepower, Capability to Both Classes

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USS Detroit (LCS-7) receives regularly scheduled maintenance and upkeep during a scheduled dry-dock maintenance availability phase at BAE Systems shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla., March 29, 2019. US Navy Photo

This is the second of a two-part series on the current state of the Littoral Combat Ship program.

This post has been updated to note that the Mk 48 Mod II Gun Weapon Control System will upgrade the current 57mm gun on the LCS. 

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – With both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship in serial production at two yards and those ships now kicking off an enduring multi-ship overseas presence, the Navy is turning its focus to increasing the lethality and survivability of the hulls. Read More →

Navy Issues Draft Request for Proposal for Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle

Navy Issues Draft Request for Proposal for Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle

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A Naval Sea Systems Command-developed Iraqi 60-meter Offshore Support Vessel. US Navy briefing material indicate that early versions of the service’s large unmanned surface vessels could be based on OSV designs. US Navy Photo

The Navy has put a call out to industry to send in ideas for its planned fleet of corvette-sized unmanned surface vehicles, according to a draft request for proposal announced on Wednesday. Read More →

Navy Planning Aggressive Unmanned Ship Prototyping, Acquisition Effort

Navy Planning Aggressive Unmanned Ship Prototyping, Acquisition Effort

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Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV) prototype Sea Hunter pulls into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Oct. 31, 2018. US Navy Photo

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Navy has tightly coupled early prototyping efforts and future acquisition efforts for medium and large unmanned surface vehicles, to speed up the time it will take to experiment with the vessels and get them fielded to fleet commanders, the program manager said last week. Read More →

Navy to Field 'Optionally Unmanned' Vessels to Supplement Future Surface Combatant

Navy to Field ‘Optionally Unmanned’ Vessels to Supplement Future Surface Combatant

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The Sea Hunter, a Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV). US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Navy’s Future Surface Combatant will likely include both an unmanned and an optionally unmanned surface vessel as part of a growing family of systems, as the Navy works through how manned/unmanned teaming can provide the biggest benefits at various phases of warfare. Read More →

Navy Racing to Test, Field Unmanned Maritime Vehicles for Future Ships

Navy Racing to Test, Field Unmanned Maritime Vehicles for Future Ships

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Minecounter Measure Knifefish UUV artist’s concept. US Navy Image

With unmanned vehicles integral to the future of the Littoral Combat Ship, the Future Surface Combatant and the next-generation SSN(X) attack submarine, the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office is testing as many unmanned vehicles – both programs of record and prototypes alike – as fast as it can to learn lessons and field systems to the fleet. Read More →

Opinion: LCS Ready Today to Support Tomorrow’s Automated Warfare Systems

Opinion: LCS Ready Today to Support Tomorrow’s Automated Warfare Systems

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Sailors assigned to Surface Warfare Mission Package Detachment 2 prepare to be hoisted out of the water by the littoral combat ship USS Coronado's (LCS 4) twin-boom-extensible crane following a visit, board, search and seizure training exercise on Aug. 15, 2015. US Navy photo.

Sailors assigned to Surface Warfare Mission Package Detachment 2 prepare to be hoisted out of the water by the littoral combat ship USS Coronado’s (LCS 4) twin-boom-extensible crane following a visit, board, search and seizure training exercise on Aug. 15, 2015. US Navy photo.

The path to a 350-ship fleet supported by President-elect Donald Trump will not be any easy one in the face of continued sequestration. Read More →