Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron company, has scored a contract d from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to produce and deliver multiple TSUNAMI uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).
As disclosed, the USVs will be used to support the US Navy Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) exercise in Key West, Florida, and provide three months of joint operations with SOUTHCOM and the US Navy Fourth Fleet.
As part of the contract, Textron Systems will supply its long-endurance TSUNAMI interceptor USVs, along with Field Service Representatives (FSRs), for participation in the FLEX exercise. During the exercise, the company will demonstrate cooperative intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T) operations using its Aerosonde 4.7 VTOL uncrewed aerial system (UAS) deployed from a littoral combat ship (LCS).
The exercise will also include a demonstration of coordinated manned and unmanned surface warfare capabilities, featuring Invariant Corporation’s surface-to-air kinetic engagement (STAKE) system.
“The TSUNAMI family of vehicles leverage Textron Systems’ decades of expertise in autonomous systems innovation, coupled with the speed and scalability of Brunswick Corporation’s established and globally sustainable production line of vessels,” said Ryan Schaffernocker , Senior Vice President Air, Land and Sea Systems.
“This award establishes a partnership foundation for TSUNAMI USV government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) and contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) services, allowing for rapid deployment with a lower cost of ownership for the Navy.”
The TSUNAMI family of autonomous surface vessels is intended to support the operational requirements of the US Navy and allied forces by providing a flexible range of multi-mission uncrewed systems that can integrate with fleet operations. Built on vessels from Brunswick Corporation, the platform is designed for reliability and consistent performance, according to Textron.
Textron Systems developed the CUSV, which serves as the mine countermeasure (MCM) uncrewed surface vessel for the US Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program of record.
More recently, the company introduced the multi-mission USV (MMUSV), the fifth generation of the CUSV platform, designed to support a broader range of mission capabilities.