The U.S. Navy has tested a Textron-built unmanned surface platform along with a Raytheon-developed sonar and mine neutralizer to demonstrate autonomous mine-hunting capability, Defense News reported Tuesday.
The military service fielded the Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle to search, locate and categorize mines through the use of the AQS-20 sonar technology. CUSV then deployed a Barracuda Expendable Mine Neutralizer to destroy the mines, according to the report.
“That single-sortied, detect-to-engage was a great example of something that would represent supervisory [control of unmanned systems],†said Stephen Olson, deputy branch head in the Department of the Navy’s mine warfare office.
The Navy is also looking to equip littoral combat ships with counter-mine mission packages.