Mk 18 Mod 1 Swordfish
The Mk 18 Mod 1 Swordfish UUV is capable of performing low-visible exploration and reconnaissance in support of amphibious landing; MCM operations (including search, classification and mapping; and reacquire and identification); and hydrographic mapping in the VSW zone (10 to 40 feet depth) and the seaward approaches. It is capable of navigating via acoustic transponders in long-baseline or ultra-short-baseline mode or via P-coded GPS.
Upward- and downward looking acoustic digital velocity log improves dead-reckoning accuracy. Onboard sensors include water turbidity, water temperature and conductivity, side-scan sonar, and downward-looking camera.
Status: The Mk 18 Mod 1 Swordfish UUV achieved full operational capabilities (FOC) in 2008. Follow-on block upgrades will combine two separate UUV programs into the Mk 18 family of systems to deliver improved detection capability against buried mines in high clutter environments and are planned to deliver from FY 2014 through FY 2018.