The US Department of War’s (DoW) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has awarded Textron Systems a contract to supply multiple TSUNAMI uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for use in the US Navy Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) exercise.
The activities, which will take place in Key West, Florida, will also include three months of joint operations with the US Navy Fourth Fleet and US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The contract outlines that Textron Systems will deliver TSUNAMI interceptor USVs equipped for long-duration missions, along with Field Service Representatives, to support the FLEX exercise.
As part of the operations, cooperative intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T) will be demonstrated using the Aerosonde 4.7 VTOL Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) launched from a Littoral Combat Ship.
The exercise will also trial crewed-uncrewed surface warfare utilising the Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement (STAKE) system developed by Invariant Corporation.
The TSUNAMI family of autonomous maritime surface vessels has been engineered to address the requirements of the US Navy and associated partners for flexible, uncrewed, multi-mission assets able to function collaboratively across fleet operations.
Textron Systems developed these vessels on Brunswick Corporation’s production platforms, integrating the Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV) autonomy control system to scale capacity while employing commercial technology.
The platform is available in several variants, with lengths ranging from roughly 20 to 42 feet. Textron Systems has not specified which variant it will supply under this contract.
Textron Systems Air, Land and Sea Systems senior vice president Ryan Schaffernocker said: “The TSUNAMI family of vehicles leverage Textron Systems’ decades of expertise in autonomous systems innovation, coupled with the speed and scalability of Brunswick Corporation’s established and globally sustainable production line of vessels.
“This award establishes a partnership foundation for TSUNAMI USV government-owned, contractor-operated and contractor-owned, contractor-operated services, allowing for rapid deployment with a lower cost of ownership for the US Navy.”
Textron Systems originally created the CUSV, which serves the US Navy’s Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Influence Sweep System programme.
Recently, the company launched the Multi Mission USV (MMUSV), the fifth generation of the CUSV vessel, to further expand the US Navy’s advanced mission capabilities.
