DHS’ S&T conducts tests on two National Security Cutters

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), in partnership with the US Navy and the US Coast Guard (USCG), has participated in series of tests to evaluate two National Security Cutters (NSC) – USCGC Hamilton and USCGC James.

The tests have been carried out to independently confirm the operational capabilities of the NSCs.

As part of the project, S&T worked with the US Navy, Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Forces, which provided subject matter experts and operational research analysts on board each cutter.

S&T Office of Test and Evaluation National Preparedness Programmes deputy director Greg Simmons said: “In a collaborative effort, S&T partnered with testers from the Coast Guard and the navy to evaluate the cutters’ varied mission capabilities.”

The team collected and recorded data required for evaluating the mission impacts of any discovered deficiencies in order to determine if the cutter is operationally mission effective and suitable in a cyber-contested environment.

Carried out for more than two weeks, the tests and evaluations comprised at-sea testing with the USCG and the US Navy fleets off the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina.

During the project, the team assessed a number of cutter systems to include the command and control systems, two cutter boats, which include Over the Horizon IV and Long Range Interceptor II, 57mm deck gun, and the Close-In Weapons System.