Raytheon, a business of RTX, recently conducted a successful open-water demonstration of its Barracuda mine neutralization vehicle in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The event marked the first time the system operated untethered in a semi-autonomous mode.
During the test, the Barracuda navigated underwater independently, communicated, detected, and identified underwater targets without direct tethered control. The system is designed to reduce the risks associated with naval mine countermeasures by enabling remote and semi-autonomous operations.
Barracuda is the U.S. Navy’s latest program of record for mine neutralization and is the first of its kind to operate without a physical tether. It is designed to address various types of underwater mines, including those on the seabed, in the water column, and near the surface. While operating semi-autonomously, the system maintains a human-in-the-loop protocol for final engagement decisions.
The mine neutralizer originated from Raytheon’s Advanced Technology division, which also contributes to other military systems such as LTAMDS and SPY-6. The Barracuda program is currently progressing toward initial operational capability, with low-rate initial production expected by 2030, in alignment with the U.S. Navy’s acquisition timeline.
Raytheon is also developing an expanded variant of the Barracuda to support a broader range of missions, including subsea and seabed warfare.
