Ramona Adams
Textron Systems has kicked off on-water tests for the company-built Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, as part of the U.S. Navy‘s Unmanned Influence Sweep System program.
Textron said Wednesday the on-water maneuverability test is part of the program’s system-level integration and test phase that will also involve demonstrations of the CUSV’s integrated generators, engines and datalinks.
Wayne Prender, vice president of Textron’s control and surface systems business, said the CUSV is designed to provide mine countermeasure support for the Navy.
The company wrapped up the design, build and component test phases of the UISS program in November 2016 and  will conduct builders’ trials and formal tests after the I&T phase.
The CUSV features a large, configurable payload bay that is built to carry multiple payloads such as side-scan sonar, mine neutralization, nonlethal weapons and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors.
