Navy asks Bollinger Shipyards to build uncrewed surface vessels and integrate counter-mine sensor payloads
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy is buying additional uncrewed mine-hunting boats for deployment from surface warships and from shore; the boats are equipped with advanced counter-mine sensors and weapons that detect, classify, and neutralize enemy ocean mines.
Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced a $65.7 million contract last week to Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La., to build additional Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MCM-USV), with engineering changes to enhance the vessel's original design.
The uncrewed MCM-USV can deploy from shore or from the Navy's littoral combat ship (LCS) to find, classify, and destroy enemy mines. Bollinger last month announced delivery of the first three MCM-USVs to the Navy. These vessels are the Navy’s first program of record non-prototype autonomous surface ships, Bollinger officials say.
The MCM-USV handles counter-mine operations traditionally performed by crewed MCM-1 class ships and MH-53E helicopters -- both of which are being retired, Bollinger officials say. The MCM-USV reduces risk to sailors by conducting dangerous operations in mine-threatened waters without a crew onboard.
Counter-mine sensors
The MCM-USV vessel employs several different counter-mine sensor payloads, including the Textron Minesweep Payload Delivery System (MS PDS) and the Raytheon Minehunt Payload Delivery System (MH PDS).
The Textron MS PDS sweeps for magnetic, acoustic, and combination magnetic/acoustic mines using a towed acoustic generator and magnetic minesweeping cable. The Raytheon MH PDS works with the Raytheon AN/AQS-20 mine-hunting sonar to detect, classify, and identify mines.
Textron also is working with the U.S. Office of Naval Research to develop the Magnetic and Acoustic Generation Next Unmanned Superconducting Sweep (MAGNUSS) for future upgrades to the Bollinger MCM-USV and for future uncrewed surface counter-mine systems.
MAGNUSS will have a high-temperature superconducting magnet with an advanced acoustic generator. The advantage of using a high-temperature superconducting magnet is the ability to run at very high electrical currents with near-zero resistance, which can sweep magnetic influence mines when coupled to an acoustic generator.
Navy researchers want a non-towed underwater acoustic source with low-drag as an alternative to a legacy acoustic generator that still enables additional benefits to the non-towed magnetic source.
The modularity of the high-temperature superconductor magnet and acoustic generator potentially could be deployed on any craft of opportunity -- not just aboard the MCM-USV.
High-temperature superconductors
Textron engineers are integrating the high-temperature superconductor magnet, acoustic generator systems, and command and control for deployment onboard a small craft like the MCM-USV.
The company is building a high-temperature superconductor magnet and an acoustic generator; integrating the mechanical, electrical, and command and controls (C2) systems of the two systems with each other; and integrating the complete payload with the MCM-USV and its hull for demonstration.
On last week's MCM-USV contract, Bollinger Shipyards will do the work in Lockport and Slidell, La.; Portsmouth, Va.; and Columbus, Ind., and should be finished by September 2028. For more information contact Bollinger Shipyards online at www.bollingershipyards.com, or Naval Sea Systems Command at https://www.navsea.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
