Defense Contractor Delivers Remote Minehunting Vehicle to Navy

A ceremony has marked Lockheed Martin Corp's (NYSE: LMT) delivery of the first production Remote Minehunting Vehicle (RMV) to the U.S. Navy. This delivery is a significant milestone in the development of the mine countermeasures capability for both DDG 51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers and the newer Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the contractor says.

The RMV is a semi-submersible, semi-autonomous, unmanned vehicle that tows a variable-depth sensor to detect, localize, classify and identify bottom and moored sea mines at a safe distance from friendly ships. The RMV transmits real-time mine sonar images to its host ship over a data link system. This mine reconnaissance capability will allow a naval Strike Group Commander to quickly and safely assess the threat of mines in prospectiv eareas of operations, Lockheed says.

In 2005, the Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin a low-rate initial production contract for three RMVs. In 2006, a contract for four more RMVs was awarded. Total contract value is $118 million. The RMV is produced at Lockheed Martin's Riviera Beach, Fla., facility.

The RMV is the integral mobile subsystem of the Navy's AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System (RMS). The RMS includes the RMV, a launch and retrieval system for the RMV, the RMV-towed sonar sensor, advanced communications equipment and software that integrates RMS into the host ship's combat system.

The RMV is one component of the RMS which is currently installed on USS Bainbridge (DDG 96). The RMS completed an operational assessment in the summer of 2006 and a technical evaluation in March 2007. RMS is expected to conduct an operational evaluation in June of this year. The RMS is scheduled for its first operational deployment aboard USS Bainbridge in late 2007.

"The Remote Minehunting System (RMS) introduces a critical minecountermeasure capability to our forward-deployed naval forces," says Captain Joe Spitz, deputy mine earfare program manager, Program Executive Office Littoral and Mine Warfare. "Sailors now have an organic unmanned mine warfare system that will allow them to detect and classify mines froma safe distance. RMS allows the Navy to send a remotely operated vehicle into dangerous waters, keeping sailors out of the minefield."

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