The US Navy recently achieved its final key milestone in the development of unmanned surface vessel (USV) integrated capabilities by successfully completing a continuous 720-hour power demonstration on an engine system for use aboard future USVs.
The demonstration was part of a larger USV testing effort to assess the capability and resilience of engine systems to operate autonomously for extended periods. The latest test marked the final system to be evaluated.
The navy believes engine development and operation to be critical for the expansion of unmanned naval operations and for realizing the future vision of a manned-unmanned "hybrid fleet".
The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act directed the navy to complete the 720-hour test milestone before initiating development on large USVs.
In the final engine test, Precise Power Systems conducted testing on behalf of Austal USA. Testing took place at Daimler Trucks North America Aftermarket Solutions in Tooele, Utah, from June 19 to September 5.
The navy’s Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) and the Unmanned Maritime Systems program office (PMS 406) oversaw the demonstration.