Bluefin to Deliver Knifefish Variant to NRL

By Danielle Lucey



Bluefin Robotics has announced that it will make a variant of its Knifefish underwater robot for the Naval Research Lab. 



"We are pleased that we are able to easily adapt the Knifefish design for NRL's specific needs," says David P. Kelly, president and CEO of Bluefin Robotics. "This is just another example of how the UUV technology is maturing into a reliable, robust platform option for advancing new science and capability."



The system was developed for the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle program through Bluefin's subcontract with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. 



"Science and defense programs are now mutually benefitting from the investments made in the UUV technology. Bluefin has been a key contributor to that effort with the Reliant vehicle, their commercial systems, Knifefish, and now with our new UUV," says Dr. Brian Houston, acting head of NRL's Physical Acoustics Branch. "The science made possible with this vehicle will advance the nation's mine-hunting capabilities that can be incorporated into future generations of UUVs."



NRL's Knifefish variant will be equipped with a two-way Iridium communications system, specialized sensors and modular payload bay.