15 June 2022

HII shows amphibious ships can launch, operate, and recover LDUUVs

by Michael Fabey

HII confirmed the successful demonstration of launch, operation, and recovery of company-built large-diameter unmanned underwater vehicles (LDUUVs) using an amphibious warship. (HII)

HII confirmed on 13 June the successful demonstration of launch, operation, and recovery of company-built large-diameter unmanned underwater vehicles (LDUUVs) using an amphibious warship.

HII's Advanced Technology Group, comprising employees from across the company, performed the launch-and-recovery demonstration with the HII prototype platform Pharos and the company's LDUUV Proteus. The demonstration took place in the Pascagoula River in Mississippi, using a San Antonio-class amphibious warship with a well deck that can be flooded to launch and recover various maritime platforms.

During the demonstration, the LDUUV approached and was “captured by the Pharos cradle”, while Pharos was being towed behind a small craft that simulated an amphibious ship at low speed, company officials said.

Pharos was put in a tow position, and then using a remote control, it was “ballasted” down in the trailing position, enabling the LDUUV to navigate into Pharos, company officials said. Once the unmanned vehicle was captured, Pharos was “deballasted” back up into a recovery and transport position. The demonstration also included ballasting down to launch the LDUUV after the capture.

Pharos is outfitted with heavy-duty wheels to enable it to move within the well deck of an amphibious ship for stowage on the vehicle decks, the company said. Pharos can be rolled off the back of an amphibious ship while using the ship's existing winch capabilities to extend and retract the platform from the well deck.

The Pharos design is scalable and reconfigurable to fit various unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) or unmanned surface vehicles, the company said.

HII confirmed on 13 June the successful demonstration of launch, operation, and recovery of company-...

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