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Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle

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USV Ranger, one of the prototype USV
USV Mariner

The Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) program is developing remotely operated vessels for the United States Navy.[1][2][3]

The program intends to develop unmanned surface vessels displacing approximately 1,500 tons.[4]

In 2020 six firms were given contracts to prepare prototypes to test the feasibility of deploying unmanned surface vessels.[5][6] Bollinger Shipyards, of Louisiana, prepared the first prototype to have a vessel at sea for 720 hours, without requiring crew aboard, in December 2023. By March 2024 Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Huntington Ingalls Industries and Gibbs & Cox had all passed 720-hour engine reliability benchmark.[7] The remaining two firms were Austal USA and Lockheed Martin. Each firm received $7 million to build their prototype.

The USNI News notes that, since the vessels will sometimes carry small crews, for testing and performance testing, they might be referred to "optionally crewed" vessels.[8]

One purpose of these vessels, and Australia's plans for the very similar Large Optionally-crewed Surface Vessel, to add to a squadron additional banks of vertical launch missile tubes.[4]

References

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  1. ↑ Ronald O'Rourke. "Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  2. ↑ David Larter. "The US Navy gets its large unmanned surface vessels in 2020 with strings attached". Defence News. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  3. ↑ "Report on Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles". USNI News. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gregor Ferguson (2024-05-12). "Royal Australian Navy Explores Autonomy and Optional Crewing: Eyes LUSV as Potential LOSV Solution". Second Line of Defense. Retrieved 2025-02-08. The US Navy’s vision for LUSV is for a ship between 200 and 300ft LOA with a full-load displacement of approximately 1,500 tons. It is intended to be a low-cost, high endurance, modular USV that can carry a variety of payloads.
  5. ↑ Mallory Shelbourne (2023-11-06). "Navy Calls on Industry for Info on Large Unmanned Surface Vessel Program". USNI News. Archived from the original on 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2025-02-08. In 2020, the Navy issued $42 million in LUSV study contracts to Austal USA, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Fincantieri Marinette, Bollinger Shipyards, Lockheed Martin and Gibbs & Cox, with each company receiving $7 million.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Navy Successfully Completes Large Unmanned Surface Vessel Testing Milestone". Naval Sea Systems Command. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2025-02-08. In 2020, six LUSV conceptual design contracts were awarded to refine program requirements and to work with industry to provide feedback on the LUSV requirements. The Bollinger team is the first to successfully complete the 720-hour no-touch electrical generation and distribution system demonstration. It is now eligible for use on the LUSV program. Five other LUSV teams are currently in test with their engine systems to meet the 720-hour performance requirement.
  7. ↑ Joe Saballa (2024-03-26). "Four Firms Strengthen Bids for US Navy's Large Unmanned Vessel Program". The Defense Post. Archived from the original on 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2025-02-08. Bollinger Shipyards, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), and Gibbs & Cox have all passed 720-hour engine reliability tests with their solutions.
  8. ↑ "Report to Congress on Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles". USNI News. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2025-02-08. Although referred to as unmanned vehicles, LUSVs might be more accurately described as optionally or lightly manned ships, because they might sometimes have a few onboard crew members, particularly in the nearer term as the Navy works out LUSV enabling technologies and operational concepts
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