Knifefish UUV variant to NRL

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QUINCY, Mass., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A variation of an unmanned underwater vehicle being developed for counter-mine operations is being produced for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

Bluefin Robotics said the variant of the Knifefish UUV will be used to help improve the Naval Research Laboratory's low-frequency broadband payload technology and also support NRL in its advancement of basic and applied research in undersea warfare.

"We are pleased that we are able to easily adapt the Knifefish design for NRL's specific needs," said David P. Kelly, president and chief executive officer of Bluefin Robotics. "This is just another example of how the UUV technology is maturing into a reliable, robust platform option for advancing new science and capability."

The Knifefish is a specialized Bluefin-21 UUV. The company is developing it under a subcontract from subcontract General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems for the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle program.

Bluefin said the variant will feature two-way iridium communications and specialized sensors.