USN's UISS unmanned minehunting system completes IOT&E

The US Navy (USN) has completed ship-based Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for its Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) programme.

Part of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mine countermeasures (MCM) mission package, the UISS comprises an influence minesweeping payload – pairing a modified Mk 104 acoustic generator and a magnetic minesweeping cable – deployed from the MCM Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV). It provides a remote minesweeping capability for influence sweeping of magnetic, acoustic, and magnetic/acoustic combination mines.

Textron Systems' Fleet-class CUSV is a multimission unmanned surface vehicle featuring a modular architecture, reconfigurable payload bay and high tow force capacity. (Textron Inc)

Based on its proprietary 12 m Common USV, Textron Systems was awarded an engineering and manufacturing development contract in October 2014 for the UISS. The USN exercised options for two additional vehicles in 2017, which were delivered in 2018 in support of the MCM USV programme; the same USV used for deploying UISS will also support minehunting and mine neutralisation missions.

The UISS programme received Milestone C approval for low-rate initial production (LRIP) in early 2020 following Developmental Testing and Operational Assessment off the coast of South Florida the previous November. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has subsequently contracted with Textron for four LRIP systems.

According to the Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants, IOT&E for the UISS was undertaken from the Independence-variant LCS USS Manchester (LCS 14) off the California coast during May and June 2021.