Raytheon, a business of RTX, has successfully showcased the untethered, semi-autonomous operational capabilities of its Barracuda mine neutralisation vehicle (MNV) during a recent open water test at Narragansett Bay.
The test marked the first instance of such an operation for the Barracuda, which demonstrated its proficiency in autonomous navigation, communication, target detection and identification, and independent underwater operation.
Raytheon Naval Power president Barbara Borgonovi said: "This recent testing demonstrates the significant strides we've made in advancing mine countermeasure technology.
“Barracuda's capabilities will dramatically improve safety and efficiency for the US Navy, keeping sailors out of harm's way while effectively addressing underwater threats."
The Barracuda is recognised as the latest US Navy programme of record for next-generation mine neutralisation.
It is claimed to be the first untethered, semi-autonomous system designed to track and identify various types of mines such as bottom, volume, and near-surface mines while allowing a human operator to make the final decision on neutralisation.
The system was initially developed within Raytheon's Advanced Technology business segment, a team dedicated to evolving technologies for integration into established Raytheon products.
It now contributes to critical programmes like the Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) and SPY-6.
Aligning with the Navy's acquisition timeline, the Barracuda programme is on course to reach initial operational capability (IOC) and commence low-rate initial production by 2030.
Besides mine neutralisation missions, Raytheon is also investing in the development of a larger and advanced variant of Barracuda to address a broader range of missions including subsea and seabed warfare.
In October 2024, Raytheon completed a series of controlled environmental tests for the US Navy’s Barracuda Mine Neutralisation System at the Naval Surface Warfare Centre Carderock Division in Bethesda, Maryland.
