General Dynamics completes SAT of Knifefish UUV
General Dynamics Mission Systems has completed all stages of formal sea acceptance testing (SAT) of the US Navy's Knifefish surface mine countermeasure (MCM) UUV system, the company announced on 4 June.
The tests were conducted off the coast of Boston using navy mine test targets and included a variety of undersea, MCM operational scenarios in multiple simulated mine fields. The SAT proved that the Knifefish system is able to detect, classify and identify undersea mines in high-clutter environments. Following the successful SAT, the Knifefish system will begin developmental tests and operational assessment evaluations.
Knifefish, a medium-class MCM UUV, has been designed for deployment from the navy's littoral combat ship and other navy vessels. The system will operate in the minefield as an off-board sensor while the host ship stays outside the minefield boundaries.
The company has also completed initial navy fleet operator training as part of the transition into the next stage of testing. The training provided the operators with an opportunity to become familiarised with the Knifefish system and become proficient at operating and maintaining the system during the upcoming developmental test and operational assessment.
The Knifefish UUV is based on the General Dynamics Bluefin Robotics Bluefin-21 deep-water AUV.
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