17 November 2010
Unmanned Maritime Systems
Overview
Presented to: The Maritime Alliance Conference
Presented by: CAPT Duane Ashton,
Unmanned Maritime Systems, PMS 406
Program Manager
(202) 781-1393
duane.ashton@navy.mil
Agenda
 Portfolio
 Unmanned Undersea Vehicles
 Unmanned Surface Vehicles
 Unmanned Vehicle Challenges
 Summary
2
Unmanned Maritime Systems
Portfolio
U
S
V
U
U
V
F
U
T
U
R
E
UISS
ASW USV
BPAUV
SMCM UUV UOES 1 & 2
Large Diameter
UUV
UISS Increment 2
Seafox USV
SMCM UUV
MUSCL UOES
Acquire, deliver, and maintain operationally effective Unmanned Maritime Systems
(UMS) as fully functional and integrated systems for the war fighter, and to direct
UMS experimentation and technology maturation to develop future UMS capability
3
Unmanned Undersea Vehicles
4
Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV)
Master Plan
Displacement
(lbs)
Endurance
High Hotel
Load
(hours)
Endurance
Low Hotel
Load
(hours)
Payload
(ft^3)
Man
Portable
3”-9” dia.
<100
<10
10-20
<0.25
LWV
~12.75”
dia.
~500
10-20
20-40
1-3
HWV
~21” dia.
<3000
20-50
40-80
4-6
Large
>36” dia.
~20,000
100-300
>>400
15-30
+ external
stores
Class
Seapow er
P illa r
P rio rity
S u b P illa r C a p a b ility
In te llig e n c e ,
1
S u rv e illa n c e ,
R e c o n n a is s a n c e
FO RCEnet
5
M a n P o rta b le
S p e c ia l
P u rp o s e
LW V
HW V
L a rg e
H a rb o r
T a c tic a l
P e rs is te n t
L itto ra l A c c e s s
Long Range
S p e c ia l
O c e a n o g ra p h y
P u rp o s e
C o m m u n ic a tio n /
6
N a v ig a tio n N e tw o rk
VSW / SOF
M o b ile C N 3
Nodes
VSW / SW
2
M in e C o u n te rm e a s u re s
SCM / RI
N e u tra liz e rs
S e a S h ie ld
Sea Base
3
A n ti-S u b m a rin e W a rfa re
4
In s p e c tio n / ID
7
P a ylo a d D e liv e ry
8
In fo rm a tio n O p e ra tio n s
9
T im e C ritic a l S trik e
O P AR E A
C la n d e s tin e
C le a ra n c e
Recon.
H o ld -a t-R is k
H L D /A T F P
S O F, AS W ,
M C M , T C S **
N e tw o rk
S u b m a rin e
A tta c k
Decoy
S e a S trik e
(s e e P a ylo a d
D e liv e ry)
5
SMCM UUV UOES Increment 1
 UOES employed from Mine Counter Measures
Ships (MCMs) and crafts of opportunity
2 -- Man Portable Class REMUS (Hydroid) UUVs
1 -- Lightweight Class Bluefin UUV
Operated by NOMWC
Used to tactics, techniques, and procedures
development
– Both systems: Marine Sonics side scan sonar
–
–
–
–
 UOES Objectives:
– Mitigate Surface MCM UUV program risk
– Training, Tactics and Procedures (TTP)
development
6
SMCM UUV UOES Increment 2
 2 User Operational

–
–
–
Evaluation systems
– 2 vehicles and support
equipment
– Employed from MCM-1
Class and craft of
opportunity
Synthetic Aperture Sonar – dual
frequency
Range 100M
HF provides high resolution (1”X1”) imagery
Low frequency band provides limited buried
mine detection capability
4X higher area search rate than
Increment 1
 Environmental data collection
 Technical challenges

–
–

Vehicle Reliability
Sonar Post-Mission Analysis Software
Delivery to Naval Oceanographic Mine
Warfare Command (NOMWC) planned
FY11
7
SMCM UUV Acquisition
 Low Frequency Broadband Synthetic
Aperture Sonar
– Detect and identify buried mines in a high
clutter environment
– Leverages Office of Naval Research (ONR)
and Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
technology development
 System consists of
– 2 Heavyweight UUVs per system
– Launch and Recovery Device
– Vehicle Maintenance Cradle
– Base Pallet
– Support Equipment and Spares
ONR/NRL vehicle shown
 Vehicles operate autonomously per a
pre-programmed mission plan
 Iridium SATCOM link monitors
system position/health and can
abort/retask missions
 Deploy from Littoral Combat Ship
(LCS)
 Milestone B planned for 1QFY11
8
Large Diameter UUV Challenges
 Power and Energy:
– Capable of greater than 60 days Endurance
 Vehicles
System Endurance and reliability beyond 3 months
Biofouling Resistant and novel camouflaging techniques
Integration of payloads with a vehicle
Covert and reliable Communications with high data rate transfer (Acoustic, RF,
Laser)
– Low power, high density, affordable Data storage
–
–
–
–
 Operations
– Extended Fully Autonomous operations
 Within a GPS/Comms denied environment
 With no operator control or re-tasking
 With Dynamic environmental effects
– Contact avoidance with high traffic density
 Low signature fishing/high speed vessels/crafts Trawlers
 High End Threats
– Network/Data Exfiltration
– Vulnerability/detectability
 Mission planning
– Automated mission plans and re-tasking based on environment, mission
objectives, system performance (optimal and degraded), and system health
 Survivability
–
–
–
–
–
Detectability/Signature
Fault tolerance & recovery
Threat detection/Sense & avoid
Anti-tamper capability/techniques into UUV subsystems
Information Assurance for UUV Payloads and C2 systems
 Weapons/deployable payloads
9
Unmanned Surface Vehicles
10
Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)
Master Plan
USV MP
Priority
Joint Capability
Area
Seapower
Pillar
Joint Capability Area
Missions
X-Class
(small)
Harbor Class
(7M)
Snorkler Class
(7M SS)
Fleet Class
(11M)
MCM Delivery,
Search /
Neutralization
MCM Search,
Towed, Delivery,
Neutralization
MCM Sweep,
Delivery,
Neutralization
Maritime Shield
Protected Passage
and Maritime
Shield
1
Battle Space
Awareness
(BSA)/Access/
Littoral Control
Sea Shield
Mine
Countermeasures
(MCM)
2
BSA/Access/
Littoral Control
Sea Shield
Anti-Submarine
Warfare (ASW)
3
BSA, HLD, NonTraditional Ops, 7
Others
FORCE net
Maritime Security
ISR / Gun
Payloads
4
BSA/Access/
Littoral Control
Sea Shield
Surface Warfare
(SUW)
SUW, Gun
5
BSA/Access/
Littoral Control/
Non-Traditional Ops
Sea Strike
Special Operation
Forces (SOF)
Support
6
BSA, C&C, Net Ops,
IO, Non-Traditional
Ops, Access,
Littoral Control
Sea Strike
Electronic Warfare
7
BSA, Stability, NonTraditional Ops,
Littoral Control
Sea Shield
Maritime Interdiction
Operations (MIO)
Support
SOF Support
SUW (Torpedo),
Option
SUW, Gun &
Torpedo
Other Delivery
Missions (SOF)
SOF Support
Other IO
MIO USV for 11M
L&R
7M Payloads
High Power EW
High Power EW
ISR / Gun
Payloads
Secondary Missions of each class that are possible
11
Unmanned Influence Sweep
System (UISS) Overview
Host Ship Software
Support Equipment
Multi-Operator Control Unit,
Core System Controller.
Payload Control Interfaces,
Video, Mission Planning
Support Module, Spares,
Tools, Handling Equipment,
Slings, Cradle
Radios/Comms
Multi-Vehicle Communication System,
VRC-99 (Future RT/1499) Radio,
Iridium Radio (Back-up), Antennas
Launch & Recovery
Remote Operational Pack,
LCS Interfaces
Comms Range
8 to 12 NM
Unmanned Surface Sweep
System (US3)
Acoustic and Magnetic Influence Sweep
MCM Unmanned Surface
Vehicle (USV)
NSWC CCD Design,
built for LCS Compatibility
USV Command
& Control (C2)
Boat Control System
Acoustically/magnetically sweep underwater
mines using an LCS deployed unmanned watercraft
which follows preplanned routes
12
12
Unmanned Influence
Sweep System Status
Capability Description
 The UISS is comprised of the
Unmanned Surface Sweep
System (US3) payload
installed on board a MCM
USV. The integrated USV/US3
will be deployed from LCS or
Ships of Opportunity.
 The UISS provides the LCS
with a stand-off, long
endurance, semi-autonomous
minesweeping capability to
counter acoustic and/or
magnetic influence mine
threats in the littoral
environment.
 Program transitioned from ONR FY07
 Establishing Acquisition Program Baseline
 Analysis of Alternatives completed –
Capabilities Development Document under
development
 Technology Readiness Assessment
completed & Approved
 Completed E2E Phase III testing for the LCS
MCM Mission Package
UISS Supporting LCS MCM MP Testing
13
UISS Hardware Overview
Electronics Arch/
Navigation Sensors
•
•
•
•
•
Radar
Video Cameras
Microphone
Signal Horn
Hailer
Magnetic Sweep
Cable (stowed)
• Coaxial Configuration
• Low-Corrosion
Electrodes
• High-Temperature
Insulation
Deploy & Retrieve
Mechanism
• Cable Tension
Powered
• Fairlead
Power Supply Subsystem
• Microturbine Generator
• NiMH High Voltage Battery
Electronics Room
• Primary & Backup Mission
Computers
• INU/GPS
• Remote Sweep Computer
• Video servers and recorders
• Comms system
Electric Winch
• Winch Motor
Controllers
• Multi-Speed
Level-Wind
MK 104 Acoustic
Generator (stowed)
Payload Bay
• Attachment points
• Ventilation/Exhaust
• Single Throat
• Upgraded Float
Engine Room
Steering Room
• Twin 540 HP Cummins QSC8.3L
Diesel engines
• Automated fire suppression system
14
Mine Countermeasure (MCM)
USV
Craft Characteristics
 Aluminum Construction
 Twin 540 HP Cummins QSC8.3L engines
 Twin 27” Diameter Propellers
 40’ L x 11.5’ W x 10.2’ H (Arch Retracted)
 22,600 lb Full Load
Endurance
5.5 hr total mission time
2.5 hr sweep
2 hr transit
1 hour loiter
Payload
 Protected from environment
 4,000 lbs + Fuel = Interface Requirement
Towing
 2,500 lbs tow force @ 25 knots in Sea State 2
15
15
Modular Unmanned Surface
Craft Littoral (MUSCL)
Concept Design
Operator Control Station
MUSCL employed from
RPB

MUSCL is a man-portable USV with Intelligence,
Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
capabilities for the Riverine environment

Developed by Naval Surface Warfare Centers
Panama City and Combatant Craft Division

Deployed from Riverine Patrol Boat (RPB) or
Riverine Assault Boat (RAB)

Status: Design concepts and payload are
defined. Preliminary Design Review conducted
August 2010
16
Harborwing
Autonomous USV
 Built by Harborwing (Hawaii)
 Tri-hull, high performance composite platform fitted with a
hard wing airfoil sail and hydrofoils - environmentally
friendly
 Mission areas: Designed for long-range, long duration open
ocean missions to provide low-cost, real-time situational
awareness and response to Commanders
 Status: Fabricated prototype and conducted Sea Trials
17
SEAFOX
 Built by Northwind Marine (Seattle, WA)
 2 (Mk1) and 6 (Mk2) SEAFOX USVs
delivered to Fleet User Operational
Evaluation System (UOES) Commands
 Mission areas supported:
− Riverine Operations
− Maritime Expeditionary Support Forces
(MESF)
− NSW
− METOC Expeditionary Support
− Mayport ATG
Mk1
 Status: UOES completed end of FY09; Craft
transferred to NECC Norfolk (2), ATG
Mayport (1), NOOC Stennis (1), NEO
Dahlgren (1), NPS Monterey (1)
Mk2
18
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
USV
Craft Characteristics
Length: 36 ft
Beam: 11.2 ft
Full load displacement: 23,049 lbs
Payload: 5000 lbs
Engines: Twin diesels, Water Jets (440 mhp each)
Towing: 1,600 lb/20 kt
 Provides non-persistent, long range, semi-
autonomous ASW detection capability
– Low Frequency Bi-static
– Mid Frequency Mono Static
 Integrated with ASW Mission Payloads
– USV Towed Array System (UTAS)
– Multi-static Off-board Source (MSOBS)
– USV Dipping Sonar (UDS)
 2 USVs delivered for LCS ASW MP 1
19
Unmanned Vehicle Challenges
 Standardization
– Common Control/Architectures
– Modular Open Systems
– Vehicle and Payload Interfaces
 Reliable Launch and Recovery
 Technology
– High Capacity Energy Sources
– Navigation, Guidance, Control
– Autonomy
▪ Obstacle/Collision Avoidance
▪ Cooperative Behavior
– Robust Communications
– Sensor and Sensor Processing
▪ Computer Aided Detection/
Classification
20
USV Inherent Characteristics
USVs have unique attributes for many missions
Energy
Speed
Deployment and
Recovery Speed
 Large Payloads
 Long Endurance
Endurance
Air Breathing
Propulsion
Information
Generation
 Long Range
Real-time Comms
UAV
USV
UUV
Displacement
Platforms
Payload
 Long Endurance
 High Speed
RF Comms
Stealth
Coverage
 Real-time connectivity
Moderately Stealthy
Accuracy
Stability
Equipment
Carriage
Low-Cost / Technical
Complexity
Source: ACTUV Brief, Rob McHenry, AUVSI Program Review 2010, data based on an analysis of published UxS characteristics circa 2000
21
Summary
 Fleet experience with UxVs is growing
 Acquisition program plans are progressing
 Technology challenges remain
 Areas to explore for cooperation
– Autonomy, payloads, cable design
– Project Agreement, Foreign Comparative Testing, JointDevelopment
22