The killer of sea mines: Raytheon completes development of Barracuda drone (video)
Raytheon (RTX) has completed work on a technical data package for the Barracuda unmanned minesweeper.
This was reported by Seapower.
Barracuda is a disposable mine countermeasures drone weighing almost 12 kilograms and measuring almost 122 centimeters long, which was developed for the needs of the US Navy.
Once launched, it is propelled by four small water cannons that deliver it to the point of detection of the sea mine detected by the towed AQS-20C sonar.
Target data, including GPS coordinates, is transmitted to the device. Using sonar and a camera installed in the nose of the vehicle, the operator can confirm the presence of a mine.
After confirmation, the Barracuda approaches the mine and detonates.
Starting in May 2023, Raytheon will build 128 Barracuda vehicles, 63 of which will be for contractor testing and 65 for Navy testing.
Dan Seamans, Raytheon’s director of mine warfare, said that the Navy has not yet made a final decision on what kind of launch platforms will be used for the Barracuda. Among the candidates are coastal mine countermeasures ships, including unmanned ones.
Serial production of disposable devices is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2027.
