Two LCS MCM unmanned systems pass ship integration testing

Two unmanned mine warfare systems completed shipboard integration testing last week aboard a Littoral Combat Ship, the Navy announced today.

The two systems, the Knifefish unmanned undersea vehicle and the unmanned influence sweep system, finished testing Jan. 14.

The tests were completed aboard the Independence (LCS-2), one of the lead ships of the class, which the Navy largely uses for research and development.

"During these integration events, both the Knifefish and UISS successfully verified the communications link between Independence and the unmanned systems as well as executed multiple launch and recovery evolutions from the ship," the Navy's statement reads.

Textron's UISS is "developed to sweep acoustic/magnetic influence mines, which can be deployed from the Littoral Combat Ship or a vessel of opportunity," according to Navy budget documents. General Dynamics’ Knifefish UUV hunts for buried and bottom mines, Inside the Navy previously reported. Both systems are incorporated into the LCS mine countermeasures mission package.

The entire MCM mission package is expected to enter initial operational test and evaluation in 2021. That mission package includes several groups of systems working together to detect, classify and neutralize enemy mines.

The service will deploy the mission package from Littoral Combat Ships, MH-60 helicopters and the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter.