Textron Systems Corp. announced today a contract award from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to produce and deliver multiple Tsunami uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), which will be used to support the U.S. Navy Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) exercise in Key West, Florida and provide three months of joint operations with U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Navy 4th Fleet.
Under the contract, Textron Systems will provide long-dwell Tsunami interceptor USVs and Field Service Representatives to the FLEX exercise, demonstrating cooperative intelligence, surveillance reconnaissance and targeting with its Aerosonde 4.7 vertical takeoff and landing UAS from a littoral combat ship. The exercise will also demonstrate manned-unmanned surface warfare with Invariant Corporation’s Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement, or STAKE, system.
The Tsunami family of autonomous maritime surface vessels are designed to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy and its allies for a readily available, versatile portfolio of multi-mission uncrewed assets to team effectively across the fleet. Using Brunswick Corp.’s reliable, high-performance vessels, Textron Systems developed the Tsunami family of products with its trusted Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle autonomy control system, leveraging mature commercial technologies to deliver increased capacity and immediate scale.
“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 of Air, Land and Sea Systems. “This award establishes a partnership foundation for Tsunami USV government-owned, contractor-operated and contractor-owned, contractor-operated services, allowing for rapid deployment with a lower cost of ownership for the Navy.”
Textron Systems is the originator of the CUSV, the mine countermeasure USV for the U.S. Navy Unmanned Influence Sweep System program of record. Most recently, Textron Systems introduced the Multi Mission USV, the fifth generation of its CUSV craft, designed to expand the Navy’s capacity for advanced mission capabilities.
