In recent tests, Raytheon’s Barracuda Mine Neutralization System detected, tracked and held position on a target on its own -- the first time this type of test has been executed with the Barracuda vehicle, according to a Raytheon news release.
The successful display was part of a series of controlled environmental tests at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in Maryland, where Barracuda collected data in various conditions similar to the ocean.
Part of the Littoral Combat Ship Mine Countermeasures package, Barracuda is the Navy’s program of record for next-generation mine neutralization -- a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle capable of identifying and destroying mines. Once the AN/AQS-20C sonar system identifies a mine, Barracuda can be launched to destroy it.
“This event marks a significant milestone in the advancement of underwater security and naval defense,” Raytheon’s Naval Power President Barbara Borgonovi said. “Barracuda’s performance reaffirms its position as a game-changing solution for identifying and neutralizing naval mines, a critical challenge in modern naval operations.”
The Navy first awarded the Barracuda contract to Raytheon in 2018. The program is now in its qualification testing phase and is set to enter Low-Rate Initial Production by 2027.