The US Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) reports its personnel completed a week-long test of the second Integrated Swimmer Defense (ISD) User Operational Evaluation System (UOES2) on Sept. 18. The UOES2 is currently in the final stages of development.
The NAVSEA ISD team is supporting acquisition of an enhanced, deployable ISD capability for the Maritime Expeditionary Security Forces (MESF). "The testing event was very successful in meeting all of the objectives set forth prior to commencement," said James Pollock, NUWC's project lead for the ISD system.
The mission of the MESF is to protect strategic port facilities, strategic commercial shipping and naval ships operating within the shallow waters, at anchorages and in harbors, from bare beach to sophisticated port facilities, to ensure the uninterrupted flow of cargo and units to the combatant commander. This mission has the added requirement of protecting critical assets along the littorals of the United States and its territories from terrorist attacks.
The ISD team is setting the stage for the acquisition of an end-to-end detect-to-engage anti-swimmer capability for the MESF community based on current commercial technology, reports NAVSEA.
"Many of us considered this test to be the most critical of the three integration test events due to the large jump in system capability from the first integration test we conducted in mid-June of this year," said Pollock. "This is the optimal time to identify and correct any major issues with the system before the final integration test scheduled for November."
The test was the second of three integration tests of the UOES2. NAVSEA states that the system is scheduled to be delivered to the MESF for evaluation in early spring 2010.
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