Page 44: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2021)

SUBSEA DEFENSE tent surface-launched and -recovered mine countermeasures might go undetected by other sonars. LFBB on Knife? sh is (MCM),” the Navy said. “The notional MUUV will contain a used to ? nd buried, bottom, and volume targets in highly common baseline vehicle architecture, including sensors and cluttered environments. Knife? sh is the only system used for components, for the submarine and expeditionary con? gura- buried minehunting. tions. Launch-and-recovery systems will re? ect each con? gu- “Knife? sh is being built in blocks to incorporate new tech- ration’s unique requirements and missions.” nology to increase performance in each block. Knife? sh is

The Navy would ? eld the MCM variant ? rst – supporting part of the LCS mine countermeasures (MCM) mission pack- the expeditionary mine countermeasures teams who currently age ( MP) and is also being built so that it can be employed operate the King? sh. The follow-on deliveries will support the from other vessels of opportunity,” said Taylor. submarine community’s version. The development of Knife? sh, both its sensing and process-

The Knife? sh UUV has a low-frequency broad band sonar to ing, was a result of a successful collaboration within the Na- conduct volume, bottom, and buried minehunting capability val Research and Development Establishment (NRDE). “The for the LCS mine countermeasures (MCM) mission package NRDE spent years developing prototype sensors and algo- (MP), and can also be deployed from and vessels of oppor- rithms that were tested in relevant environments to perfect the tunity (VOO). Knife? sh is built upon the General Dynamics technology for transition to a program of record,” Taylor said.

Mission Systems Blue? n 21 vehicle. “Low-frequency broadband (LFBB) is our term for a technol-

According to Dr. Sam Taylor, PEO Unmanned and Small ogy area that we developed here at the Naval Research Labo-

Combatants Senior Leader for Mine Warfare, Low frequency ratory (NRL) that exploits the structural acoustics involved broadband (LFBB) is a description of the acoustic energy with underwater sonar,” said Dr. Brian Houston, Acoustics employed by the sonar to enable it to sense objects that Division superintendent at NRL. “When you transmit sound,

Senior Chief Mineman Abraham Garcia (left) and Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class Joshua

Gaskill, members of the Knife? sh Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) test team, man tending lines during crane operations as part of an operational test conducted by members from Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR). Knife? sh is a medium-class mine countermeasure UUV designed for deployment off the Littoral Combat Ship. OPTEVFOR is the Navy’s sole test and evaluation organization for surface, air, and undersea warfare, along with various other programs which impact the Navy’s overall mission.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian M. Brooks/RELEASED 44 January/February 2021

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