Textron Systems announced on Tuesday (13) the introduction of the Multi Mission Uncrewed Surface Vessel (MMUSV), the fifth generation of its CUSV uncrewed vessel.
The new system expands the range and operational endurance of the family of uncrewed surface vehicles, with a focus on meeting the requirements of the U.S. Navy and allied forces.
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According to the company, the MMUSV was developed based on the proven maturity of the CUSV and offers enhanced capabilities for surface warfare missions, mine countermeasures (MCM), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and signals intelligence (SIGINT). In August 2025, Textron Systems was awarded, through the Expeditionary Mission Consortium–Crane (EMC2), the Low-Cost Unmanned Maritime Solution (Large) contract for the development, testing, and delivery of the new vessel.
The new MMUSV features double the fuel and payload capacity compared to previous versions, with the ability to carry up to 13,000 pounds. The platform is designed to operate in sea conditions up to Sea State 5 and has a towing capacity exceeding 4,000 pounds. The company also emphasizes that the design prioritizes rapid production and reduced costs, leveraging more than four decades of Textron Systems’ experience in developing autonomous systems across multiple domains.
According to David Phillips, senior vice president of Air, Land, and Maritime Systems at Textron Systems, the scalability of the new platform enables rapid expansion of mission capabilities while maintaining operational efficiency and flexibility for different employment profiles.
Textron Systems is the original developer of the CUSV used in the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program, focused on mine-sweeping operations. The company also continues to support the mine countermeasures efforts of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program through multi-year contracts that include fleet support, logistics sustainment, engineering services, depot maintenance, production of sweep payload delivery systems, and the development of a new generation of magnetic and acoustic sweep payloads known as MAGNUSS.
With the introduction of the MMUSV, Textron Systems strengthens its presence in the uncrewed maritime systems segment, expanding its portfolio for modern naval operations and high-complexity missions.
Source and images: Textron Systems. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
