Submarine Acoustic Warfare Development

Mission — Submarine Acoustic War Dev source

The Submarine Acoustic Warfare (SAWS) Development Program develops acoustic countermeasures, submarine defense capabilities, external launch systems and all acoustic augmentation systems for the U.S. Navy submarines. The SAWS Development Program is comprised of Submarine Torpedo Defensive Systems (SubTDS) (MK 5 and MK 6), Submarine Tethered Expendable Buoy (STEB), Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW), Non-Traditional Acoustic Communications (NTAC), and Submarine Launched Unmanned Aerial System (SLUAS). Project 1265 Sub Defensive Warfare The first development (Increment 1) effort of the overall Submarine Torpedo Defensive Systems (SubTDS) program is focused on delivering full internal countermeasure launcher (ICL) functionality to all submarines in the fleet via the Acoustic Device Countermeasure (ADC) MK5 effort. The ADC MK 5 acoustic countermeasure developmental contract awarded in Sep 2018 and is currently in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (E&MD) phase. The ADC MK5 development includes delivering fully functional test units and Engineering Development Model (EDM) variants. The ADC MK5 will bring new technologies, including adaptability, packaged in a three-inch diameter body. Future ADC MK5 efforts will continue to pace the threat of enemy torpedoes. Efforts will include software and hardware upgrades, improved mobility, the ability to receive input from the combat control system via the internal countermeasure launcher, and other iterative efforts to provide increased functionality. Increment 2 of the SubTDS effort is the ADC MK6. This effort will develop the External Countermeasure Launcher (ECL) hosted 6-inch acoustic countermeasure for defense against acoustic threat torpedoes. The MK6 Other Transaction agreement (OTA) started the development and prototyping efforts will continue through the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). PMS415 Submarine Tethered Expendable Buoy (STEB) effort requires developmental changes to the internal countermeasure launcher, specifically the breech door, to integrate STEB. This integration will provide a communications path to and from the buoy, bringing buoy sensor data internal to the submarine. Project 1267 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW) The FY26 budget supports completion of TI-1 development and integration, which includes qualification testing, submarine integration, operational testing via Quick Reaction Assessment (QRA), TI-1 Warshot build-up and delivery of TI-1 units for Early Operational Capability (EOC) fielding. The FY26 budget also supports continued TI-2 hardware obsolescence updates, development of the Anti-Torpedo Torpedo (ATT) software, development of modeling and simulation capabilities, and delivery of TI-2 units. The CRAW Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) program will deliver a new very-lightweight torpedo capability to the Submarine Fleet that provides enhanced Anti- Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Torpedo Torpedo (ATT) mission capabilities. The CRAW development program leverages torpedo hardware developed by the Anti-Torpedo Torpedo Defense System (ATTDS) program and very-lightweight torpedo technologies developed by ONR. Two incremental hardware Technology Insertions (TIs), TI-1 and TI-2, will be used to deliver developmental prototypes to support Engineering, Development, and Operational Testing. The ASW and ATT capabilities will be delivered via two Advanced Processor Build (APB) software spirals. The ASW capability will be part of APB-1 and the ATT capability will be included in APB-2. The CRAW TI-1 effort is being executed as a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) effort and will rapidly develop fieldable prototypes to demonstrate the new very-lightweight torpedo ASW capabilities in an operational environment and provide for a residual operational capability. The residual operational capability will, however, have a limited inventory of TI-1 systems. The TI-2 effort will update the TI-1 baseline to address obsolescence and improve producibility and supportability to enable production of additional inventory so that the CRAW capability can be fielded broadly across the submarine force. The TI-2 program is being executed as a Major Capability Acquisition Program and in FY24 was initiated as a post-Milestone B (MS-B) ACAT III program. The TI-2 program is being phased with the TI-1 effort so that the TI-2 program can fully leverage the TI-1 prototypes as proof of design hardware. This will reduce overall cost of the TI-2 program as the TI-2 program will move immediately into development of proof of manufacturing prototypes to support Development Testing. Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) units to support Operational Testing will also be delivered as part of TI-2. The CRAW program also includes development of launcher system modifications to allow for launch capabilities from vertical and horizontal launch tubes. This will include the development of the Revolver horizontal launcher system that enables launch of multiple very- lightweight torpedoes from standard submarine torpedo tubes. The FY 2026 cost of the CRAW Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $14.2 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Department will certify FYDP funding in a future budget submission. Project 1268 Non-Traditional Acoustic Communications (NTAC) NTAC provides advanced undersea acoustic communications across multiple platforms within the Navy. This program builds upon the baseline NTAC software capability and integrates the software components into existing hardware to expand the effectiveness and reliability of the capability. Additional details are available at the classified level. Submarine Launch Unmanned Aerial System (SLUAS) funds transfer from RDTEN PE 0604562N beginning in FY25. SLUAS extends the sensor range of the submarine. SLUAS sub- systems include the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), UAV encapsulating canister, UAV command and control capabilities, and onboard stowage. FY26 funding supports development of capability improvements that will be phased into production deliveries (via the SLUAS production contract funded through OPN). The SAWS Development Program transitions the research and development of new technologies and capabilities generated under the Future Naval Capabilities (FNC), Small Business and Innovative Research (SBIR), and other Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) initiatives. Hardware and software evaluations in representative acoustic environments, against projected threats utilizing digital and hardware-in-the-loop simulations determines the effectiveness and impact on improving submarine survivability. The technology is then integrated into the appropriate product line. Additionally, this effort also includes advanced studies, product development and improvements for Submarine Acoustic Warfare Systems (SAWS) including but not limited to Acoustic Augmentation Support Program (AASP), Countermeasure Set Acoustic (CSA), Submarine Torpedo Defense System (SubTDS), CRAW, and NTAC.

Mission — Sub Defensive Warfare source

The Submarine Acoustic Warfare (SAWS) Development Program develops acoustic countermeasures, submarine defense capabilities, external launch systems and all acoustic augmentation systems for the U.S. Navy submarines. The SAWS Development Program is comprised of the Submarine Defensive Warfare Program. Project 1265 Sub Defensive Warfare Submarine Torpedo Defense System (SubTDS) The first development (Increment 1) effort of the overall Submarine Torpedo Defensive Systems (SubTDS) program is focused on delivering full internal countermeasure launcher (ICL) functionality to all submarines in the fleet via the Acoustic Device Countermeasure (ADC) MK5 effort. The ADC MK5 will bring new technologies, including adaptability, packaged in a three-inch diameter body. Increment 2 of the SubTDS effort is the ADC MK6. This effort is the development of External Countermeasure Launcher (ECL) hosted 6-inch acoustic countermeasure for defense against acoustic threat torpedoes. PMS415 Submarine Tethered Expendable Buoy (STEB) effort is limited to the development of changes to the internal countermeasure launcher, specifically the breech door, to integrate STEB. This integration will provide a communications path to and from the buoy, bringing buoy sensor data internal to the submarine.

Mission — Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW) source

The FY 2026 request for the CRAW Program includes $24,056 thousand of discretionary and $55,000 thousand of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of $79,056 thousand. The mandatory funds will deliver initial TI-1 units, complete TI-1 qualification testing, continue modeling and simulation development, and continue TI-2 APB-2 Anti-Torpedo Torpedo (ATT) software development and testing. Further information for this reconciliation request is provided in Section 20004 (Munitions and Supply Chain) of the Reconciliation Exhibit. This request represents an increase of $4.918M from FY25 to FY26. The FY26 budget supports completion of TI-1 development and integration, which includes qualification testing, submarine integration, preparations for operational testing via Quick Reaction Assessment (QRA), TI-1 Warshot build-up and delivery of TI-1 units for Early Operational Capability (EOC) fielding. The FY26 budget also supports continued TI-2 hardware obsolescence updates, development of the Anti-Torpedo Torpedo (ATT) software, development of modeling and simulation capabilities, and deliver of TI-2 units. The FY26 CRAW Research, Development discretionary funding of $24.056 supports the development, test and qualification of the CRAW MK 58 torpedo multi-mission ASW and ATT capability and submarine integration for combat systems and Virginia Class (VACL) submarine launchers systems. This includes development and qualification of the CRAW warhead, in-water testing of CRAW hardware and tactical software, delivery of the first CRAW TI-2 prototypes by Raytheon, and development of the Revolver launcher system. The CRAW Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) program will deliver a new very-lightweight torpedo capability to the Submarine Fleet that provides enhanced Anti- Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Torpedo Torpedo (ATT) mission capabilities. The CRAW development program leverages torpedo hardware developed by the Anti-Torpedo Torpedo Defense System (ATTDS) program and very-lightweight torpedo technologies developed by ONR. Two incremental hardware Technology Insertions (TIs), TI-1 and TI-2, will be used to deliver developmental prototypes to support Engineering, Development, and Operational Testing. The ASW and ATT capabilities will be delivered via two Advanced Processor Build (APB) software spirals. The ASW capability will be part of APB-1 and the ATT capability will be included in APB-2. The CRAW TI-1 effort is being executed as a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) effort and will rapidly develop fieldable prototypes to demonstrate the new very-lightweight torpedo ASW capabilities in an operational environment and provide for a residual operational capability. The TI-1 CRAW effort is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The residual operational capability will, however, have a limited inventory of TI-1 weapons. The TI-2 effort will update the TI-1 baseline to address obsolescence and improve producibility and supportability so that the CRAW capability can be fielded broadly across the submarine force. The TI-2 program is being executed as a post-Milestone B, ACAT III Major Capability Acquisition Program. The TI-2 program is being phased with the TI-1 effort so that the TI-2 program can fully leverage the TI-1 prototypes as proof of design hardware. This will reduce overall cost of the TI-2 program as the TI-2 program will move immediately into development of proof of manufacturing prototypes to support Development Testing. Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) units to support Operational Testing will also be delivered as part of TI-2. The CRAW TI-1 effort will rapidly deliver an ASW capability at a reduced cost by leveraging hardware from the ATTDS program and technologies developed by ONR. The ATTDS program developed a very-lightweight torpedo that can be launched from a surface ship. The hardware design from ATTDS will be modified for submarine integration and use as an ASW weapon. Very-lightweight torpedo technologies developed by ONR will be significantly leveraged and transitioned into CRAW. Funding for the TI-1 effort supports development of ASW software, warhead design and certification, upgrades to the torpedo power plant, combat control system modifications, submarine launcher system modification, and overall system integration. Launcher system modifications will include development of launch capabilities from vertical and horizontal launch tubes. This will include the development of the Revolver launcher system that enables launch of multiple very-lightweight torpedoes from standard submarine torpedo tubes. The TI-1 effort will rapidly develop a fieldable system with prototype very-lightweight torpedoes that will be demonstrated in an operationally relevant environment. After the demonstration, the TI-1 system will constitute a residual operational capability. The TI-2 program will develop and deliver proof of manufacturing prototypes that will be used to reduce risk associated with starting manufacturing and production of new very- lightweight torpedoes. The TI-2 prototypes will support Development Testing to collect data on performance, inform any refinement of hardware, and inform assessments of technical risks. As part of the TI-2 program, manufacturing and assembly procedures will be refined to improve producibility, qualification testing will be completed, an ATT software upgrade will be developed, any hardware obsolescence will be addressed, and Development Testing and Operational Testing will be conducted. CRAW TI-2 long lead material is being procured in FY24 to support torpedo delivery in FY26. ATT software development will begin in FY25. Development of modeling and simulation capabilities to improve development timelines and reduce testing and evaluation cost and schedule will continue in FY25.

Mission — Non-Traditional Acoustic Communications (NTAC) source

Submarine Launch Unmanned Aerial System (SLUAS) transferred from RDTEN Program Element (PE) 0604562N in FY25. Non-Traditional Acoustic Communications (NTAC) is a software-based solution that leverages existing hardware components on target platforms, including submarines, to provide advanced undersea acoustic communications. The NTAC program is developing and integrating new communications capabilities and improved performance via software upgrades. Submarine Launch Unmanned Aerial System (SLUAS) extends the sensor range of the submarine. SLUAS sub-systems include the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), UAV encapsulating canister, UAV command and control capabilities, and onboard stowage.

Mission — Congressional Adds source

Revolver delivers hardware and middleware to enable smaller payloads to be launched from a VIRGINIA Class Torpedo Tubes. CRAW will be the first payload integrated for use with the Revolver production baseline. While CRAW will be the initial payload integrated with Revolver, additional payloads that meet interface requirements can be integrated. Project C911: Congressional Add ($4.823M) - Integration of four-tube launch system. Project C311: Congressional Add ($4.000M) - Accelerate revolver integration

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (5)