DARPA’s Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV), an unmanned surface vehicle designed to track diesel electric submarines, is expected to begin builder’s trials in January or February 2016.
An official from the research organization added that the ACTUV is being considered for other missions such as mine countermeasures.
Scott Littlefield, program manager of its DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office, added that the cost to run one usv a day is less than three percent of the cost of a destroyer.
Construction of the ship by Leidos at the Vigor Shipyard is 90 percent done.