Surface & Shallow Water MCM

The MCM USV program consists of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) with Mine Countermeasures (MCM) payloads. The program began as the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program which consisted of a USV paired with a magnetic and acoustic sweep capability. As the USV progressed, the Navy modified the program so the craft would integrated and operate other payloads. The UISS program was subsumed by the MCM USV Program upon successful Full Rate Production Decision Review in September, 2023. The program consists of four products: 1) The MCM USV is a semi-autonomous dual drive, 38 foot long, 10 foot wide aluminum hulled craft powered by two diesel engines. The craft contains a situational awareness and contact avoidance suite consisting of optical, radar, and GPS and is directed and monitored by the Multi Vehicle Communication System (MVCS) with a host station, such as LCS, Vessel of Opportunity (VOO), or shore site. The reconfigurable payload bay adds a modular mission capability enabling multiple payloads (mine sweep and mine hunt). The MCM USV Block 1 is a Multi-Mission USV (MMUSV) design which incorporates lessons learned into the baseline MCM USV to improve manufacturability and reduce cost of production and lead times. 2) The Mine Sweep Payload Delivery System (PDS) brings magnetic and acoustic mine influence sweep capability to the MCM USV. The PDS includes a winch, a magnetic sweep cable, and a Towed Acoustic Generator (TAG) along with capability to deploy and retrieve the towed equipment. 3) The Mine Hunt PDS brings a mine hunting capability by integrating the existing AN/AQS-20 on to the craft. This may also include the integration of other Mine Hunt PDSs in support of other sonar systems other than the AN/AQS-20 sonar, both legacy and future systems, that are needed to support the Remote Mine Hunt mission. The PDS includes a winch, cable and tow body handling equipment. 4) The Mine Neutralization PDS will neutralize mines previously identified throughout the water column using the Barracuda Mine Neutralizer. The PDS will consist of a launcher and communications gear to communicate with the neutralizer in the water. The program completed ship-based TECHEVAL and IOT&E in FY22. The program declared Initial Operational Capability in Q2FY23.

FY 2027 increase corresponds with the expansion of Mine Countermeasures (MCM) capabilities. The Barracuda system is an expendable, modular, mine neutralizer launched from the MCM Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) as part of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) MCM Mission Package (MP) to autonomously reacquire and neutralize previously detected near-surface mines. Upon entering the water, the vehicle will conduct a search, capture an image, and use a communications buoy to send the image to the operator in the MCM MP to evaluate the image and order the weapon to fire, abort, or continue searching. Future capabilities may include launch from manned or unmanned aircraft or vessels of opportunity as well as the ability to neutralize mines in volume and on the bottom. The Barracuda detailed design and development contract includes system design, program management, systems engineering, software development, integrated product support and contractor testing.