U.S. Navy mine counter-measure efforts advance with Raytheon Barracuda underwater neutralization vehicle.

According to information published by Raytheon on July 8, 2025, the American defense company successfully completed the first untethered, semi-autonomous demonstration of its Barracuda naval mine neutralization vehicle during open water testing in Narragansett Bay. The event marks a critical milestone in the U.S. Navy’s effort to modernize its mine countermeasure capabilities through the integration of autonomous unmanned systems. Raytheon, a business of RTX, confirmed that Barracuda performed all mission-critical functions independently, including underwater navigation, communication, target detection, classification, and tracking, culminating in a man-in-the-loop final engagement decision.
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Raytheon's Barracuda unmanned underwater mine detection vehicle during open water testing for mine neutralization missions. (Picture source: Raytheon)

The Raytheon Barracuda is a next-generation naval mine neutralization system and an advanced Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) specifically engineered to identify and destroy bottom, volume, and near-surface sea mines. Unlike legacy systems that rely on tethered Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Barracuda functions untethered and semi-autonomously, significantly enhancing operational reach, mission efficiency, and platform survivability in high-risk maritime environments. The recent demonstration validated Barracuda’s ability to operate independently throughout a complete search-to-neutralization mission profile, marking a significant advancement in U.S. Navy undersea warfare technology.

For the U.S. Navy, Barracuda offers a transformative leap in mine warfare operations by enabling faster and safer mine clearance in littoral zones, chokepoints, and critical sea lanes. Its autonomous functionality reduces the need for divers and crewed platforms to enter mine-infested waters, significantly decreasing risk to personnel. The system’s modularity allows for easy deployment from various naval assets, including unmanned surface vessels, helicopters, and small boats, giving commanders operational flexibility and rapid response capability. Furthermore, its integration with networked battle management systems enables coordinated, multi-domain mine countermeasure operations as part of a larger naval task force.

Barracuda features a compact, hydrodynamic design with a modular and open systems architecture that supports advanced payload integration. It utilizes a suite of high-resolution sonar, electro-optical sensors, and onboard processing powered by artificial intelligence to detect and classify underwater mines with high accuracy. After positively identifying a threat, the system transmits data to a human operator who authorizes the final neutralization action, typically through the deployment of a controlled explosive charge. This man-in-the-loop safety mechanism maintains critical human oversight while reducing direct exposure of personnel to underwater threats.

As the first untethered mine neutralization UUV to become a formal program of record for the U.S. Navy, Barracuda represents a paradigm shift in autonomous naval mine warfare. The vehicle was developed under Raytheon’s Advanced Technology division, known for pioneering innovations used in other major programs such as LTAMDS and SPY-6. Designed for launch and recovery from various platforms, including unmanned surface vessels (USVs), helicopters, and small boats, Barracuda enables distributed and expeditionary MCM operations in both shallow coastal zones and deep-sea environments.

Raytheon has confirmed that the Barracuda program is on track to reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) by 2030, in line with the U.S. Navy’s mine warfare modernization strategy. Additionally, Raytheon is investing in a larger, more capable variant of the Barracuda platform to support future mission profiles beyond mine neutralization, including subsea and seabed warfare, infrastructure security, and persistent undersea surveillance.

Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon, highlighted the significance of the recent milestone, stating: “This recent testing demonstrates the significant strides we've made in advancing mine countermeasure technology. Barracuda's capabilities will dramatically improve safety and efficiency for the U.S. Navy, keeping sailors out of harm’s way while effectively addressing underwater threats.”

With the introduction of the Barracuda UUV, Raytheon is redefining the U.S. Navy’s ability to ensure maritime domain superiority through autonomous systems. Its flexibility, precision, and survivability make it a critical enabler of future undersea operations, supporting the U.S. Navy’s transition to a more agile and unmanned-capable fleet in response to evolving threats across the globe.