Supporting the sailor: The versatility of CUSV®
In the ever-evolving landscape of maritime defense, where threats are becoming increasingly dangerous, the U.S. Navy is turning to uncrewed systems, like Textron Systems’ CUSV® (Common Uncrewed Surface Vehicle), to protect sailors from the front lines. By taking on such critical missions, the CUSV provides naval forces a multi-mission platform that increases operational capabilities, ensures mission readiness and keeps ships and their crews out of harm’s way.
Designed with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), our CUSV craft offers a flexible solution for the U.S. Navy and allied forces to rapidly adapt to a near constantly changing battlespace. Its modular design allows it to be configured to support a wide array of crucial mission sets, including mine countermeasures (MCM); intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); surface warfare and more.
“The core design generates a lot of power,” said Craig, Senior Director Global Military Sales and Strategy, Sea Systems and retired U.S. Navy captain. “This allows the craft to support a wide variety of payloads with unique power and cooling demands.”
Our CUSV craft can meet the specific needs of the missions at hand with seamless multi-mission payload integration, significantly enhancing a sailor's ability to execute complex assignments with greater efficiency and reduced risk. This ensures that sailors are able to maintain a safe standoff distance from threats while still achieving operational objectives.
Our CUSV has successfully performed a handful of mission sets with a variety of payloads, most recently during a live-fire demonstration at the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercise, in which Poniard rockets were launched from our craft.
We are continuing to iterate on the CUSV design, developed under the Navy's Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) Program, which offers capabilities in MCM and beyond.
“Our CUSV has a lot more capability than just MCM,” said Matt, Director, Global Military Sales and Strategy, Sea Systems. “We’re just starting to scratch the surface of the available mission sets that the USV can support.”
The CUSV is a critical asset to maritime operations, which is why we at Textron Systems are consistently working towards future enhancements to continue providing support to our sailors.