RTX’s Raytheon business recently conducted a series of controlled environmental tests for the Barracuda mine neutralisation system at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division in West Bethesda, Maryland, RTX announced on 7 October 2024.
Using a production representative test unit, Barracuda operated and collected data in environments of various sea states and water currents, demonstrating the ability to hydrodynamically control itself in conditions simulating the ocean, RTX noted.
The test demonstrated the ability of the vehicle to detect, track and hold position on a target on its own. It was the first time Raytheon has executed this type of testing with the Barracuda mine neutraliser underwater vehicle and moves the programme one step closer towards meeting operational requirements.
“This event marks a significant milestone in the advancement of underwater security and naval defence,” Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon, was quoted as saying in a RTX press release. “Barracuda’s performance reaffirms its position as a game-changing solution for identifying and neutralising naval mines: a critical challenge in modern naval operations,” she added.
Barracuda is the US Navy’s programme of record for next-generation mine neutralisation. It is a semi-autonomous system that uses sonar and camera systems to locate and neutralise undersea mine threats.
Raytheon was first awarded a contract for Barracuda in 2018. The programme completed its critical design review in March 2023 and has now entered its qualification testing phase.
In July 2023 Raytheon was awarded a contract to deliver engineering development model units to the US Navy. The programme will go into low-rate initial production in 2027.