Textron Systems has secured a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to produce and deliver multiple Tsunami® Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) for use in upcoming U.S. Navy and SOUTHCOM operations.
The contract focuses on supporting the U.S. Navy Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) exercise in Key West, Florida. Following the exercise, the vessels will provide three months of joint operations with SOUTHCOM and the U.S. Navy Fourth Fleet.
Textron Systems will provide Tsunami® long-dwell interceptor USVs along with Field Service Representatives (FSRs) to support operations during the exercise. During FLEX, the USVs are expected to demonstrate cooperative Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR-T) capabilities while operating alongside the Aerosonde 4.7 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) from a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
The TSUNAMI USVs will also demonstrate manned-unmanned surface warfare in coordination with Invariant Corporation’s Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement (STAKE) system during the FLEX exercise. This integration highlights the ability of autonomous systems to team effectively across a diverse fleet, providing versatile multi-mission uncrewed assets for the Navy and its allies.
The Tsunami family of vehicles utilizes high-performance vessels from Brunswick Corporation combined with Textron Systems’ Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV®) vessel-based autonomy control system. By leveraging mature commercial technologies, the company aims to deliver immediate scale and increased capacity to the military. Textron Systems is the originator of the CUSV and the Mine Countermeasure (MCM) USV for the Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program of record, and recently introduced its fifth-generation craft, the Multi Mission USV (MMUSV).
Ryan Schaffernocker, Senior Vice President Air, Land and Sea Systems, commented, “The TSUNAMI family of vehicles leverage Textron Systems’ decades of expertise in autonomous systems innovation, coupled with the speed and scalability of Brunswick Corporation’s established and globally sustainable production line of vessels. This award establishes a partnership foundation for TSUNAMI USV government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) and contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) services, allowing for rapid deployment with a lower cost of ownership for the Navy.”
