RTX to supply radio-controlled Barracuda UUV torpedoes to US Navy for ocean mine clearance

US company RTX (formerly Raytheon) will arm the US Navy with semi-autonomous, single-use torpedoes. The vehicle is called the Barracuda UUV.

Here's What We Know

The radio-controlled torpedo will be used by the US Navy to defuse ocean mines. It has a length of 90 cm and a diameter of 12 cm. The torpedo will approach the mine and detonate.

RTX received $83.3 million from the US Department of Defense to develop the Barracuda UUV in 2018. The military recently allocated $25.5m to the company for the production of mine clearance equipment. The total cost could rise to $362.7m.

At this stage of development, the use of the Barracuda UUV requires an operator to send it to detected mines. However, RTX plans to make the torpedo completely unmanned.

Source: Military Aerospace Electronics