Combat Capability Development Transition

Abstract

Long Range Unmanned Surface Vessel (LRUSV) is a Service Force Design priority that has demonstrated, through extensive wargaming and simulations, significant operational impact in the Naval Expeditionary Force's surface warfare campaign against peer competitors in the maritime battlespace, particularly when operating within planned sensor and communication networks. As such the LRUSV capability, when fully matured, is a critical element of the CMC's force modernization plan. LRUSVs, employed individually or in formations of multiple vessels under the cognizance of a LRUSV company or subordinate element will be unmanned vessels, capable of conducting semi-autonomous maneuvers in the open ocean for extended periods of time employing tele-operated Organic Precision Fires (OPF) and small Unmanned Surface Vessels (sUSV) in support of sea control and sea denial operations. This prototyping effort will use an incremental approach to deliver capabilities that leverages prototype development to integrate vessels, autonomy packages, Fire Control Application (FCA), and OPF, and will be linked to experimentation and demonstration to reduce technical and integration risk, validate designs, and better inform achievable and affordable requirements, with the ultimate goal of delivering operationally suitable and effective capabilities to the FMF in the late 2020s. In FY 2021, the Service awarded contracts for three prototype LRUSV vessels, one contact vessel, and began development and integration of the autonomy package and Fire Control Application (FCA). In FY 2022, the Service awarded contracts for two additional prototype vessels, two small Unmanned Support Vessels, and two OPF launchers, conducted Kill Chain and Live Fire tests, and initiated the Pilot Course Development. In FY 2023, the Service will conduct an Early Operational Assessment (EOA) with trained Marine operators and LRUSV prototypes to validate employment concepts and further refine requirements. The results from the EOA will inform a Service decision to transition into the Major Capability Acquisition pathway at Milestone B.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2023
Source ID
7400_0603635M_4_1319_PB_2023

Tags

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs

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