Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV)
Abstract
As part of the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Future Surface Combatant Force (FSCF) program, the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) will be the second USV platform. The 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 PE (0605513N) 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/IO capabilities in sufficient quantities and provide/improve distributed situational awareness in maritime Areas of Responsibility (AORs). MUSVs will be designed to be attritional assets if used in a peer or near-peer conflict. 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. The MUSV will be a key enabler of the Navy's Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) concept. In FY 2020, the Navy conducted a full and open competition for a MUSV prototype, conducting source selection activities Q1-Q3 of FY20. In July 2020, the Navy announced they had awarded a Detail Design & Fabrication (DD&F) contract to L3 Harris for the delivery of the first MUSV prototype for $35M. The contract contains options for up to 8 additional MUSVs (9 total) for a total contract price of $281M. L3 Harris will be the system integrator, while also supplying the autonomy and perception systems. Subcontractors Gibbs & Cox and Incat Crowther will provide vessel design and modification services, while the vessel will be produced by Swiftships Shipyard. All work will be performed in various sites along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. MUSV Machinery Plant - Supports prime contractor detail design, machinery procurement, installation and integration, and test/demonstration support for USV Land Based Test Site (LBTS). LBTS is required to demonstrate unmanned operation of main propulsion and electrical generation/distribution at a minimum of threshold mission duration requirements prior to entering MS B as required by the FY21 NDAA. NSWC Land Based Test Site (LBTS) for MUSV - Provides NSWC Engineering support for the detail design, procurement, installation and integration, test and demonstration plan development, and test and demonstration execution in support of MUSV LBTS. MUSV LBTS will demonstrate the unmanned operation of MUSV representative propulsion systems and electrical generation and distribution systems to a minimum of the threshold mission durations (720 hours) prior to entering MS B as required by the FY21 NDAA. The Sea Hunter and Seahawk Operations and sustainment project provides resources for the operation and sustainment of the Sea Hunter and Seahawk. The Sea Hunter and Seahawk are defined as experimentation platforms vessels operated by the Navy's Surface Development Squadron, and are currently homeported in San Diego, CA. Seahawk was delivered to ONR and subsequently transferred ownership to PMS 406 Q3 FY21. Through continued operations and demonstrations utilizing these vessels, the Navy continues to gain valuable insights and lessons learned in the utilization of unmanned systems and their associated payloads. This knowledge is being utilized to influence both Concept of Operation/Employment doctrine to guide fleet operations, as well being incorporated into requirements documents for future USV systems. Sea Hunter and Seahawk will provide a means for demonstrating a payloads ability to operate in an autonomous manner with no engineering support for multi-day operations simulating a MUSV operational environment. Sea Hunter and Seahawk will inform PMS 406 on technologies for MUSV that demonstrate successfully the Navy's ability to produce, deploy and disburse ISR/IO capabilities in sufficient quantities and provide/improve distributed situational awareness in maritime Areas of Responsibility (AORs).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 3428_0605512N_4_1319_PB_2022
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- Root: MEDIUM UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES (MUSVs)
- Child Accomplishment: MUSV Product Development
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