Autonomous, unmanned vessel for trailing submarines under development

RESTON, Va., July 8 (UPI) -- An autonomous unmanned vessel for long-duration trail of quiet, diesel-electric submarines is to undergo sea testing next year.

Leidos, a security and engineering solutions company, said the ACTUV, or autonomous continuous trail unmanned vessel, is being developed for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Project Agency.

"ACTUV's advanced sensor technology should allow for continuous surveillance which, combined with the vessel architecture and design, is expected to provide autonomous safe navigation supporting Navy missions around the world," said Leidos Group President John Fratamico.

The surface vessel has a trimaran design and uses non-traditional composite structures. It is being built by Christensen Shipyard Ltd. in Vancouver, Wash., under supervision of Leidos and Oregon Iron Works.

Leidos said the vessel will feature electro-optics, long-range and short-range radar, as well as other sensors and mission packages for a variety of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

In an anti-submarine role, the ACTUV will be able to locate and track a diesel-electric submarine over long distances, no matter the submarine's depth, with little human input, the company said.