Bluefin to Provide UUVs for Mine Countermeasure Programme

Bluefin Robotics, USA, is being awarded a subcontract from General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems for engineering and manufacturing of the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV). The SMCM UUV system will include two Bluefin-21 UUVs in addition to launch and recovery equipment, a support container, spare parts and support equipment. 

As a critical part of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Warfare mission package, the SMCM UUV system will provide the fleet mine warfare commander and sailors with mine-hunting capability and address the Navy's need to reliably detect and identify buried mines in high-clutter environments.

 

The UUV will feature Bluefin's modular and flexible vehicle architecture, pressure-tolerant field-swappable subsea batteries and low-noise propulsion technology. In addition, the vehicle will also include an advanced sonar payload developed by the General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Team.

 

The subcontract includes an option for the production of up to five low rate initial production systems (ten UUVs) as well as other options. Work will be performed in Quincy, Massachusetts.