Spartan Unmanned Surface Vehicle Envisioned for Array of High-Risk Missions

By DAVID VERGUN
Associate Editor

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center believes it has a winner in the Spartan, an unmanned surface vehicle designed for an array of high-risk missions including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine warfare in the littorals.

The remotely controlled Spartan is semi-autonomous, 7 feet to 11 feet in length, and has a rigid hull supported by an inflatable collar, or sponson. Spartan is capable of carrying payloads up to 3,200 pounds at high speed to ranges up to 14 miles, and will be controlled from the parent vessel by a controller using a keyboard or a mouse with a graphical user interface. "It is envisioned that this will be an integrated C2 [command and control] station for control of multiple unmanned vehicles," said Vittorio Ricci, Spartan technical manager at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, R.I.

Ricci said Spartan's sensor package would be configured based on the goal of each mission and could include radar, video, and an enhanced navigation and communications system.

"Spartan, as an integral part of a family of tactical unmanned vehicles deployed from the Littoral Combat Ship, will put transformational new capability into the hands of a carrier strike group or expeditionary strike group commander in the near future," said Vice Adm. Timothy W. LaFleur, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Spartan "will allow greater persistence on station and less risk to personnel than is currently possible with legacy systems."

Adm. Vern Clark, chief of naval operations, called for an acceleration of Spartan's development and deployment this fall. "I would like to see the surface unmanned vehicle deploy inside of a year," he said in October at the 7th Annual Naval Warfare Symposium & Exposition in Virginia Beach, Va.

However, Spartan is still in the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program stage and production is not expected until 2007. However, "Spartan could be delivered to the operating forces as an ACTD demonstrator," said Patricia Dolan, a spokeswoman for the Naval Sea Systems Command. She cited the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle as an example of a demonstrator that was delivered to the fleet earlier than normal. No early delivery decisions have been announced, however.

The Navy already uses small manned craft, called rigid-hull inflatable boats, primarily for SEAL team insertion and extraction and some coastal surveillance and resupply missions. The hull of the Spartan would be made of fiberglass, composite material, and aluminum.

Ricci said Spartan could be deployed aboard the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), DD(X) and CG(X); and could detect surface and subsurface threats at extended ranges.

Spartan is being developed by the U.S. Navy and Army, the Republic of Singapore, and industry partners Integrated Maritime Platforms International, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman. Deployment of Spartan is planned for fiscal year 2006 and experimental models could be deployed with the operating forces as early as next year.

Estimated cost of the Spartan project is $53 million through 2007, including $30 million for development of four prototypes. *