The Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) has been cleared for low-rate initial production (LRIP) following the Program Executive Officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) granting Milestone C approval to the UISS program.

The Navy plans to exercise options for the procurement of three LRIP systems on the current Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract with Textron Systems, the UISS prime contractor.

The UISS is designed for the littoral combat ship (LCS) as part of the mine countermeasures mission package. It is made up of a mine countermeasures USV and a towed minesweeping payload for influence sweeping of magnetic, acoustic and magnetic/acoustic combination mine types. The system can also be launched from vessels of opportunity or from shore.

UISS underwent formal Developmental Testing and Operational Assessment off the coast of South Florida, which concluded successfully in late Nov. 2019. Testing consisted of a series of end-to-end minesweeping missions against simulated mine targets using the Navy Instrumented Threat Targets training system.

During Developmental Testing and Operational Assessment, LCS Detachment Sailors performed a variety of operations including shore-based launch and retrieval of the system, command and control, mission planning and post-mission analysis. The UISS USV has also completed initial integration tests with the LCS and vessels of opportunity.

Based on its Common USV, Textron Systems was awarded an EMD contract for the UISS in Oct. 2014. In 2017, the Navy exercised options for two more vehicles, and they were delivered in 2018 in support of the comprehensive Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle program that will leverage the UISS USV for missions such as minehunting and mine neutralization.

Textron is expected to begin delivery of LRIP systems in fiscal 2021.

Below: The Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) heads offshore at sunrise for an Operational Assessment mission off the coast of South Florida in November 2019. The UISS consists of an unmanned surface vehicle and a towed minesweeping payload for influence sweeping of magnetic, acoustic and magnetic/acoustic combination mine types while keeping warfighters out of the minefield. (Photo by U.S. Navy/RELEASED)