Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV)

Abstract

As part of the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Family of Systems (FoS), the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) project provides resources for the detail design, fabrication, testing, experimentation and support of the MUSV. The MUSV is defined as having a reconfigurable mission capability which is accomplished via modular payloads with an initial capability to support Battlespace Awareness through supporting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Information Operations (IO) mission areas. Modular payloads may be developed separately by other programs or prototyping efforts and will be further developed and/or integrated into MUSV under the Unmanned Surface Vehicle Enabling Capabilities project unit that supports MUSV and LUSV. MUSVs will provide affordable, high endurance, reconfigurable vehicles able to accommodate various payloads for unmanned missions to augment the Navy's manned surface force. MUSVs will support the Navy's ability to produce, deploy and disburse ISR/EW capabilities in sufficient quantities and provide/improve distributed situational awareness in maritime Areas of Responsibility (AORs). MUSVs will be designed to be attritable assets if used in a peer or near-peer conflict. MUSVs will initially be capable of semi-autonomous operation, with operators in-the-loop (continuous or near-continuous observation and/or control of operations by remote operators) or on-the-loop (semi-autonomous operations where autonomy is controlling the vessel, but it may prompt the remote human operator for input based on sensory input and autonomy behaviors, or an operator may choose to intervene based on data sent from the MUSV or other sources to the remote operating station). USV Command and Control (C2) will be maintained via the afloat element (i.e., embarked on a United States Navy (USN) combatant/support ship), or via the ashore element (C2 station ashore). MUSV C2, combat and/or weapon system integration will employ tamper proofing and security controls to prevent disclosure of data and electronic warfare defenses during autonomous operation. MUSVs will employ a Risk Management Framework (RMF) approach with physical, technical and administrative security controls. MUSVs will have hardware and software components to protect classified/sensitive functions. MUSVs will be capable of weeks-long deployments and trans-oceanic transits, and operate aggregated with Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) and Surface Action Groups (SAGs), as well as have the ability to deploy independently. MUSV leverages efforts external to this project unit accomplished through Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) and Office of Naval Research (ONR) Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV)/Sea Hunter investments in autonomy, reliability, endurance, command and control, payloads and testing that started in FY 2017 and will continue through FY 2021. In addition, the MUSV C2 concept directly leverages the fleet-ready C2 solution developed for unmanned surface vessels in the OSD SCO Ghost Fleet Overlord LUSV experimentation program. In FY 2020, the Navy is transitioning MDUSV Sea Hunter I to the Surface Development Squadron (SURFDEVRON) under the MUSV project, and will be used for continued experimentation and Fleet learning. The MUSV will be a key enabler of the Navy's Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) concept, which includes being able to deploy independently or with other MUSVs as well as operate with individual manned combatants or as part of a larger battle group. Potential future missions for MUSV will continue to be explored as the Navy continues to learn through experimentation with Sea Hunter I and the Ghost Fleet Overlord projects and as MUSV concepts of operation (CONOPs) are developed and refined. Following up on the outcome of the FSCF Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) completed in FY 2019, the Navy will have opportunities in the future to increase the MUSV capability set as technology matures. Fielding of MUSV starting in FY 2022 will provide the Navy increased capability and necessary capacity at lower procurement and sustainment costs, reduced risk to sailors and increased readiness by assuming missions from manned combatants.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
• Source ID: 3428_0603502N_4_1319_PB_2022

Tags

Readers

• Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics