OVERVIEW: The Knifefish UUV is an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) designed for mine countermeasure operations.

DETAILS: The Knifefish UUV's development was initiated by the United States Navy to address the growing threat posed by modern sea mines in littoral waters. The program sought a platform capable of significantly reducing the risk to personnel and surface combatants during mine clearance operations. General Dynamics Mission Systems was awarded the contract to develop and produce the Knifefish, which leverages advanced low-frequency broadband (LFBB) sonar technology for mine detection, classification, and identification. The design philosophy centered on creating a highly autonomous and persistent platform capable of operating in complex and contested environments. The system is intended to be deployed from surface combatants, specifically the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and potentially other vessels of opportunity, thereby extending the reach and effectiveness of naval mine warfare capabilities.

The primary role of the Knifefish UUV is to conduct mine countermeasures (MCM) operations. It is not intended for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-air warfare (AAW), or anti-surface warfare (ASuW) roles. The UUV is designed to autonomously navigate through minefields, using its advanced sensor suite to detect and classify various types of mines, including bottom mines, moored mines, and floating mines. The system then transmits mine location data back to the host ship, allowing for the planning and execution of safe mine neutralization operations. Its autonomous operation reduces the risk to human life and minimizes the need for manned mine clearance operations in hazardous areas. Furthermore, the Knifefish is designed for extended missions, increasing the area that can be surveyed in a single deployment compared to more traditional MCM methods.

The installation of the LFBB sonar allows for the detection of mines buried in the seabed or camouflaged amongst other underwater objects. The LFBB system provides significantly improved detection and classification capabilities compared to traditional minehunting sonars. The sonar operates at low frequencies, enabling it to penetrate sediment and detect buried mines with greater accuracy. The Knifefish’s ability to autonomously navigate, detect, classify, and map minefields provides a crucial capability for ensuring safe passage for naval and commercial vessels through strategic waterways. The data it collects is critical for generating a common operational picture of the underwater battlespace, which enables effective planning and execution of MCM missions.

SPECIFICATION: Length: 4.9 m || Beam: 0.533 m || Draft: 0.533 m || Disp: 0 t

SENSORS: LFBB

ARMAMENT: None