General Dynamics Announces Knifefish UUV Risk Reduction Program Completion

Photo courtesy Bluefin Robotics.

By Holly Gonzalez



General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems announced the completion of a risk reduction program for the U.S. Navy’s Knifefish surface mine countermeasure UUV. 



The configuration item test documented specific hardware architecture and software integration. As part of the program, the critical test allowed for identification of issues that could be destructive if not caught early. 



"The completion of this significant milestone is a great achievement for our Knifefish team," said Thomas Kirchmaier, president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. "As an essential component of the Navy's surface-ship mine countermeasure mission packages, Knifefish will help meet the constantly-evolving requirements of today's fleet and greatly reduce risk to Navy personnel and ships."



The program included subsystem tests of payload components, propulsion components and software interface elements. The program will be used with the Navy Littoral Combat Ship mine warfare package and will include two UUVs. 



The Knifefish program is possible through collaboration from Bluefin Robotics, Ultra Electronic Ocean Systems, Oceaneering International Inc., Metron, the Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University, 3 Phoenix Inc., General Dynamics Information Technology and ASRC Research Technology Solutions.