VSW MCM/Force Protection UUV

Abstract

This funding support the development of unmanned systems for the Navy's only fielded expeditionary unmanned underwater EOD and MCM capability. Specifically, it provides for development of affordable expeditionary, unmanned underwater systems to support Navy Expeditionary forces including Explosive Ordnance (EOD). Mobile Diving and Salvage Units, and Shallow Water (SW), Very Shallow Water (VSW) and Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures (ExMCM) mission operations. The equipment must be highly portable in order to support the Navy EOD technician to safely approach, render safe, recover, exploit and dispose of underwater explosive threats to include sea mines, limpet mines and unexploded ordnance. Provides support for the Navy's high priority missions of Maritime Homeland Defense, MCM, including clandestine reconnaissance and mine clearance in support of amphibious operations. Development of Expeditionary UUV systems to support localization render-safe and detailed intelligence gathering of UXO including Underwater Improvised Explosive Devices. This project supports CNO N957 MCM UUV Roadmap. The increase in RDT&E resources from FY 2017 to FY 2018 provides the RDT&E resources needed to execute two formal MK 18 Family of Systems acquisition programs as well as three major engineering change proposals and the enhancement to the MK19 Family of Systems to provide an underwater threat interdiction capability. These efforts require prototype development and significant DT&E during FY 2018. FY 2018 program execution tempo reflects a significant increase in activity to support MK 18 UUV Increment II and EOD Response ROV capability development FY 2018 will focus on completion of the development and testing of advanced sensors (SSAM and ATLAS) that will allow warfighters to detect, classify and localize high priority threats in meeting mine warfare missions. Also, resources will be used to expand deployability of the MK 18 Family of Systems abroad a higher number of shipboard platforms and also to deploy the family of systems from additional small boats other than the 11m RHIB. The Increment 1 MK 18 Mod 2 upgrade will allow implementation of Automated Target Recognition (ATR), advanced autonomy architecture and enhanced electro-optic sensor performance. Increment II will focus on improving MCM performance and reducing the tactical timeline through fielding a Reaquire, Identify and Mark capability for the MK 18 Mod 2 system. Concurrently with these efforts, the MK 18 Mod 1 is undergoing a configuration change that will provide a higher area coverage rate, inclusion of vehicle autonomy, and Automated Target Recognition. Additional efforts will execute the open competition process necessary to acquire and verify an EOD Response ROV capability focusing on user effectiveness and operational suitability. These efforts will significantly improve the capabilities of the projected inventory of 48 MK 18 Mod 2 vehicles and 75 MK 18 Mod 1 vehicles for fleet expeditionary forces. Currently, the MK 18 Family of Systems are being employed in multiple theater of operations (5th, 6th and 7th Fleet) and have been continuously employed in multiple CONUS based port survey and maritime homeland defense as well. These resources also support the FY 2018 enhancement of the MK 19 Family of Systems, (i.e. a ROV based ship's hull search capability) as well as a MK 19 variant (i.e. a ROV based target interdiction capability) based on the previously conducted EUNS AoA. In FY 2018, the next generation (i.e. modified-off-the-shelf (MOTS) ROV) is being developed to decrease risk when reacquiring/investigating a potential threat (i.e. sea mine or underwater Improvised Explosive Device).

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2019
• Source ID: 4023_0603654N_4_1319_PB_2019

Tags

Readers

• Munitions and Ordnance Engineering
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs