Brazilian Navy demonstrates MCM USV prototype

The VSNT-CMM, shown here, can also mount a gyrostabilised remotely controlled weapon station armed with a machine gun. (Victor Barreira)

The Naval Systems Analysis Center (Centro de Análises de Sistemas Navais: CASNAV) of the Brazilian Navy put through its paces the prototype of the VSNT-CMM (Veículo de Superfície Não Tripulado de Contramedidas de Minagem) mine countermeasures (MCM) unmanned surface vehicle (USV), CASNAV's Director Captain Hugo Leonardo Fernandes da Costa told Janes in mid-November.

Demonstrations and trials of the USV, developed and built by the CASNAV, have been conducted on several occasions, such as at the Naval Complex of Aratu during the Brazilian ‘ARAMUSS' (Aratu Maritime Unmanned Systems Simulation) 2025 exercise between 10 and 14 November, ‘MINEX 2025' countermine (MCM) training exercise took place between 17 and 19 November, and ‘Operação ATLAS ANFÍBIA' amphibious training exercise between 26 November and 5 December.

For more information about ‘ARAMUSS 2025', please see Brazil hosts first Maritime Unmanned Systems exercise .

The VSNT-CMM has been principally designed to test a range of solutions under development by the CASNAV, such as the PRISMA (Planejamento Remoto e Interface para Sistemas Marítimos Autônomos) maritime unmanned systems command-and-control system and the CITRA 2.0 (Console de Imagens Táticas de Realidade Aumentada) tracking, detection, and automatic classification software system, according to the CASNAV.

The USV principally consists of a modified DGS Defense's Armada 15 Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) hull, which mounts a Yamaha 90HP diesel outboard, a modular mast system, as well as the EdgeTech Discover 4125D side-scan sonar, the CASNAV said.