Textron Systems’ CUSV excels during SUMMIT

source unmanned.co.uk

July 26, 2011 SHEPARD GROUP Source: Textron

Textron Systems Advanced Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that its Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) successfully completed the Supervision of Unmanned Vehicles Mission Management by Interactive Teams (SUMMIT) demonstration sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). During the 10-day demonstration, the CUSV executed Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mine countermeasure missions as commanded by the SUMMIT software-based management system.

"I am very pleased with the CUSV system and the AAI team's participation in the LCS SUMMIT exercise," said Dr. Sam Taylor, the ONR Unmanned Systems Common Control product line manager and chief technology officer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, or NSWC PCD. "The reliable and consistent performance of the CUSV contributed significantly to our ability to show the SUMMIT technologies working in a relevant environment under conditions similar to how they will be deployed once fielded."

"This event brought together many promising technologies for evaluation under relevant operational scenarios," says Donald Hairston, Textron Systems Advanced Systems senior vice president & general manager. "Our CUSV exceeded 90 percent mission availability during the exercise and, more importantly, demonstrated its ability to integrate seamlessly with Naval assets to perform critical mine countermeasure missions safely and efficiently."

SUMMIT was just one of several recent events in which the CUSV participated, having amassed more than 700 total hours of in-water operation.

"Our CUSV incorporates a reconfigurable payload bay, as well as an open architecture utilizing commercial, off-the-shelf components," says Hairston. "That has allowed us to easily integrate new payloads and capabilities to effectively execute the many mission profiles required for these various events. It has been gratifying to witness the maturity and reliability of the system during these demonstrations."

Textron Systems plans to demonstrate the CUSV next during the second phase of Trident Warrior 2011, an event sponsored by Program Executive Officer LCS and directed by the US Fleet Forces Command. This will be held in October in Norfolk, Va., where Textron Systems recently showcased the CUSV.