Raytheon has developed a unique underwater drone Barracuda to combat sea mines
Raytheon has completed work on the Barracuda underwater drone being developed for the US Navy. The technical data package for the mine countermeasure has been successfully completed, and a testing program is underway. The company is currently building a launcher.
Raytheon began the Barracuda project in 2023, with a planned production of 128 units, 63 for contractor testing and 65 for Navy testing. The platforms for Barracuda’s launch have not yet been determined, but potential candidates include a littoral combat ship mine countermeasures package that includes a non-crewed surface vessel with a mine countermeasures system.
Barracuda is a semi-autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle that detects and destroys surface and bottom mines. It can operate in shallow waters using a disposable modular neutralizer with a destruction mechanism, a moving installation, sensors and a communication buoy that wirelessly transmits data back to the ship. The drone mine trapper weighs 12 kilograms and is 122 centimeters long.
When activated, the device uses four small water jets to move to the location of the sea mine, initially detected by the towed AQS-20C sonar. The acoustic communication buoy establishes a link to the device, which allows for real-time updates of data, such as GPS coordinates. This data allows Barracuda to accurately approach the sea mine. Equipped with sonar and a nose-mounted camera, the device allows the operator to confirm the mine’s location before guiding and detonating the Barracuda, each device operating as a single charge.
