USN awards Knifefish retrofit to General Dynamics
Knifefish SMCM program advances to Block 1 with increased capabilities added to all five LRIP systems. (Photo: General Dynamics Mission Systems)
General Dynamics Mission Systems has been awarded a $72.8million contract by the US Navy to retrofit Knifefish mine countermeasure UUVs.
General Dynamics Mission Systems has been awarded a $72.8million contract from the US Navy to retrofit five Block 0 Knifefish surface mine countermeasure unmanned underwater vehicle (SMCM UUV) systems.
The retrofit process is necessary to maintain the Knifefish’s operational capabilities. It will enable the vehicle to operate at deeper depths, identify more complex target environments and provide more precise localisation.
Once complete, all ten Knifefish Block 0 UUVs will be upgraded with the new requirements, integrated and re-delivered in the Block 1 configuration.
Knifefish SMCM will reduce risk to personnel by operating within minefields as an off-board sensor, while the host ship stays outside the minefield boundaries.
General Dynamics Mission Systems is the prime contractor for the Knifefish programme. The company designed the UUV using an open architecture concept that can be quickly and efficiently modified to accommodate a wide range of missions.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Knifefish UUVs were developed for the Surface Mine Countermeasure UUV programme to equip the USN’s Littoral Combat Ships.
Each system includes two UUVs, launch and recovery equipment, a support container, spare parts and support equipment.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
