Textron to continue LCS minesweeping support
Textron Systems is to provide additional engineering and technical support for an unmanned mine countermeasures (MCM) component of the USN Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme, the DoD announced on 23 February.
Textron will support the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) USV and towed sensor payload, under a $34.38 million contract modification from Naval Sea Systems Command.
The company will complete work under the contract modification by March 2022.
UISS forms part of the LCS Mine Countermeasures Mission Package (MCM MP), which uses a system-of-systems approach to target specific portions of the water column and segments of the MCM detect-to-engage sequence.
The USV will target acoustic, magnetic and magnetic/acoustic combination mine types, satisfying the USN requirement for a rapid, wide-area coverage mine clearance capability.
‘UISS seeks to provide a high area coverage rate in a small, lightweight package with minimal impact on the host platform,’ the DoD added.
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