Textron hopes to build CUSV at Slidell

Textron Systems Unmanned Systems has built flexibility into its Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle’s design and acquisition programs that may enable the Louisiana shipbuilder to sell the Navy on a new mine-hunting mission – a CUSV towing a minesweeper - before signing off on an original mine-sweeping mission contract, a company official said. TSUS hopes to sign a low-rate initial production contract for an Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) in the third quarter of FY 2017, but the Navy may buy CUSVs without the minesweeper sooner, says Wayne Prender, senior VP at Textron. The Navy has identified CUSV as one of three possible solutions to the mine-countermeasures mission challenge of the Littoral Combat Ship. The sea-service hopes to start testing the unmanned vehicle in the near future. UISS is more than halfway through its 30-month contract. In-water testing is expected in July; and delivery by early 2017. DOD has already signed off on the hull design. Textron, which already is building the Navy’s Ship to Shore Connection platforms, ha proposed and has capacity to build CUSVs at the same Slidell, La., operations. (Source: US Naval Institute News 05/23/16)