Small and Medium Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

Mission — Small/Medium Unmanned Undersea Vehicles source

Small and Medium Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs) are a segment of the Navy's Family of UUVs defined as having a diameter between 3 inches and 10 inches for small UUVs and a diameter of 10 inches to 21 inches for medium UUVs. The UUVs can be launched by submarines, surface ships, or larger UUVs, and can be recovered by surface ships and submarines. This class of UUVs can have one or more types of sensors to perform multiple missions including Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE), battlespace awareness, and mine warfare. Small Unmanned Undersea Vehicle program will field a light-weight, highly portable and mission configurable UUV for use by the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Naval Special Warfare (NSW), Submarine UUV Squadron (UUVRON), the Naval Oceanographic Community (NMOC), and United States Marine Corps operators. The program will deliver a baseline UUV capability and implement an incremental development approach, including phases for prototyping, integration, demonstration and fielding of Small Diameter UUVs to integrate with mission packages from each community. This Lionfish UUV system will be the first fielded UUV with cyber compliance. Funding supports the development of unmanned systems for the Navy's expeditionary unmanned underwater Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Mine Countermeasures (MCM) capability. Specifically, it provides for development of affordable expeditionary, unmanned underwater systems to support Navy Expeditionary forces including EOD, Mobile Diving and Salvage, Underwater Construction Teams (UCT), Very Shallow Water (VSW), and Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures (ExMCM) mission operations. The equipment must be highly portable in order to support the Navy EOD technician to safely approach, render safe, recover, exploit, and dispose of underwater explosive threats to include sea mines, limpet mines, and unexploded ordnance. Provides support for the Navy's high priority missions of Maritime Homeland Defense and MCM, including clandestine reconnaissance and mine clearance in support of amphibious operations. Development of Expeditionary UUV systems to support localization render-safe and detailed intelligence gathering of unexploded ordnance (UXO) including Underwater Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). This project directly supports Department of the Navy Unmanned Campaign Framework promulgated in March 2021 and the requirements defined by the Maritime Expeditionary MCM UUV (MEMUUV) CDD and is being executed in accordance with approved CNO N9I Requirement #056-95-19, "Capability Development Document for Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response Family of Systems," July 23 2019. FY 2026 will continue the development and testing of advanced technologies that will allow warfighters to detect, classify, and localize high priority threats in meeting mine and undersea warfare missions. Investments will continue in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Leaning (AI/ML) technologies, as well as continued improvements in Automated Target Recognition (ATR) algorithms, more advanced autonomy architecture and enhancements to acoustic and electro-optic sensor performance. Surface Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (SMCM UUV) - The Knifefish program develops advanced medium class UUVs to support clandestine mine detection capability against volume, bottom, and buried mines. Equipment includes vehicles and associated systems support equipment. In parallel, Block Upgrade design efforts aligned to Fleet needs are ongoing to support insertion of incremental capability when the technology is ready. Planned Block Upgrade candidates being considered include increased detection range capability, communications upgrades, on-board sonar processing and target recognition, command and control improvements, increased operational depth, and other smaller tasks, as well as future payloads as required. Razorback is a medium class UUV capable of persistent, autonomous, ocean sensing and data collection in support of Navy Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE) mission. The Razorback has two variants, the Razorback MK19, formerly referred to as Razorback Dry Deck Shelter (DDS), and the Razorback MK20, formerly referred to as Razorback Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery (TTL&R). The Razorback MK19 variant has been procured beginning in FY17 with Fleet operational deployments beginning in FY21. Development of requirements and submarine integration efforts commenced in FY19 for the Razorback Mk20 Torpedo Tube Launch and Recover (TTL&R) variant, which was competitively sourced to industry in FY 2022. Razorback training development begins in FY25. In order to deploy Razorback, or other small or medium class UUVs from a host submarine platform with sufficient endurance to perform a desired mission, high energy density sources such as lithium-ion batteries are used. Consequently, safety is paramount, and mitigation systems must be in place to prevent or stop a high energy casualty event. Shock and Fire Enclosure Capsule (SAFECAP) is being developed as an active mitigation strategy that includes a shock qualified capsule that aides in the launch and recovery of small and medium sized UUVs through the torpedo tube, including Razorback. SAFECAP effort is being transferred from PE0604028N PU3785 to PE0604029 PU4053 beginning in FY25. Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset (MEDUSA) is a medium class UUV capable of offensive mining capabilities deployed from a submarine. MEDUSA features torpedo tube launch capability, long range, high payload placement accuracy, and can be integrated with heavy payloads. A demonstration system was developed and tested in FY21 using dummy payloads using a land-based launch facility and surface launched in-water demonstrations. Lessons learned from the demonstration informed a competitive award to Industry in FY24 to develop and produce tactical prototype systems. Tetra is an operationally relevant Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that is launched, and recovered, from submarine torpedo tubes with the capacity for multiple mission payloads as a key enabler to Subsea Seabed Warfare (SSW) to locate, identify, and provide real-time payload employment to effect objects of interest. As a tethered system, Tetra will provide real-time operational data back to the platform and enable man-in-the-loop intervention to maximize the efficiency of a sortie.

Mission — TETRA source

(U) The TETRA program is a continuation of efforts, realigned from Program Element (PE) 0604029N (UUV Core Technologies) Project Unit (PU) 4053 (UxS Platform) to PE 0604028N (Small/Medium Unmanned Undersea Vehicles) PU 1036 (TETRA) in FY25, and also includes payload development addressing emergent operational requirements. (U) This is the sole project unit that enables deployment of TETRA, which is an operationally relevant Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that is launched, and recovered, from submarine torpedo tubes. TETRA is a ROV with the capacity for multiple mission payloads as a key enabler to Subsea Seabed Warfare (SSW) to locate, identify, and provide real-time payload employment to effect objects of interest as identified in the SSW Initial Capabilities Document (ICD). As a tethered system, TETRA will provide real-time operational data back to the platform and enable man-in-the-loop intervention to maximize the efficiency of a sortie. Experimentations will be conducted with Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Squadron One (UUVRON ONE), Special Reconnaissance Team - 2 (SRT 2), and Naval Special Warfare Group 8 (NSWG 8) utilizing government test events, lake testing, and barge tests to provide Fleet and acquisition stakeholders with relevant payload and vehicle employment to inform Concept of Operations (CONOP) and fielding decisions using platforms of opportunity. (U) This project line is utilized for the development, and integration, of payloads into the TETRA ROV. Funding is also required to begin integration into Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical System (SWFTS) to reduce TETRA's stowage footprint. The majority of TETRA's operator training will be accomplished at the M241 barge, which includes a mock shutterway to practice Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery (TTL&R) from a moving platform. Funding is required for training time on the M241 Barge. This funding line will support TETRA's transition from the Rapid Fielded Temporary Alteration (RF TEMPALT) to the Submarine of Opportunity (SOO) system, which increases configuration management, decreases the amount of time required to install on a platform, and allows for local minor changes to equipment. (U) The BootStrap program is an operational capability addressing specific Combatant Commander's evolving and emergent operational requirements. BootStrap is a classified program.

Mission — Small Unmanned Undersea Vehicles source

As part of the Expeditionary UUV Family of Systems (FoS) the LIONFISH UUV Program of Record develops advanced SUUVs to support myriad missions across warfare domains. The missions include; expeditionary mine countermeasures, expeditionary data collection and surveillance, and intelligence preparation of the environment (IPOE). Equipment includes vehicles and associated systems support equipment. Planned block upgrades include increased detection range capability, communications upgrades, automated target recognition, cybersecurity, autonomy and command and control improvements, additional launch and recovery abilities, increased operational depth, and payloads as required. FY2026 Supports planned improvements for the vehicles now in full rate production, to include RDTE for advanced sensor packages, software development/ integration, automatic target recognition, and usability upgrades.

Mission — Medusa source

MEDUSA is a medium class UUV capable of offensive mining capabilities deployed from a submarine. MEDUSA features torpedo tube launch capability, long range, high payload placement accuracy, and can support heavy payloads. A demonstration system was developed and tested in FY21 with dummy payloads using a land-based launch facility and surface launched in-water demonstrations. Lessons learned from the demonstration informed a program start in FY 2022 and competitive award to Industry in FY 2024 to develop and produce tactical prototype systems.

Mission — SMCM UUV source

As part of the UUV Family of Systems (FoS) and in support of the Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package (MP), the Surface Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (SMCM UUV) Program, also referred to as Knifefish, develops advanced medium class UUVs to support clandestine mine detection capability against volume, bottom, and buried mines, in high clutter environments. Equipment includes UUVs and associated system support equipment. The program achieved Milestone C in FY 2019 and entered into Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for five (5) Block 0 systems in FY 2019. The prime contractor for Knifefish is General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) located in Quincy, MA. In FY 2021, GDMS was awarded a contract to retrofit the LRIP systems with Block 1 capabilities and upgrade a number of performance characteristics to meet Navy bottom and buried mine hunting requirements. The Navy will conduct a limited validation of these capabilities during system acceptance testing and sell off to the government in Q1-Q3FY24. Upon delivery of these systems to the Navy, they will be available for limited Fleet operations from LCS or Vessels of Opportunity (VOO).

Mission — Razorback source

A part of the Family of UUVs, Razorback is a medium class UUV capable of persistent, autonomous, ocean sensing and data collection in support of Navy Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE) mission. The Razorback has two variants, the Razorback MK19, formerly referred to as Razorback Dry Deck Shelter (DDS), and the Razorback MK20, formerly referred to as Razorback Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery (TTL&R). The Razorback MK19 variant procurement began in FY 2017 and Fleet operational deployments began in FY 2021. Development of requirements and submarine integration efforts commenced in FY 2019 for MK20 variant, which was competitively sourced to industry in FY 2022. Razorback training development begins in FY 2026. Razorback MK20 leverages risk reduction efforts for torpedo launch and recovery and host submarine integration performed under PE 0604029N UUV Core Technologies. In order to deploy Razorback or other small or medium class UUVs from a host submarine platform with sufficient endurance to perform a desired mission, high energy density sources such as lithium-ion batteries are used. Consequently, safety is paramount and mitigation systems must be in place to prevent or stop a high energy casualty event. Shock and Fire Enclosure Capsule (SAFECAP) is being developed as an active mitigation strategy that includes a shock qualified capsule that aides in the launch and recovery of small and medium sized UUVs through the torpedo tube, including Razorback. SAFECAP effort was transferred from PE0604028N PU3785 to PE0604029 PU4053 in FY 2025.

Mission — Expeditionary Underwater Systems source

Funding supports the development of unmanned systems for the Navy's expeditionary unmanned underwater Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Mine Countermeasures (MCM) capability. Specifically, it provides for development of expeditionary, unmanned underwater systems to support Navy Expeditionary forces including EOD, Mobile Diving and Salvage, Underwater Construction Teams (UCT), Very Shallow Water (VSW), and Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures (ExMCM) mission operations. The equipment must be highly portable in order to support the Navy EOD technician to safely approach, render safe, recover, exploit, and dispose of underwater explosive threats to include sea mines, limpet mines, and unexploded ordnance. Provides support for the Navy's high priority missions of Maritime Homeland Defense and MCM, including reconnaissance and mine clearance in support of amphibious operations. Development of Expeditionary UUV systems to support localization render-safe and detailed intelligence gathering of unexploded ordnance (UXO) including Underwater Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). This project directly supports the requirements defined by the Maritime Expeditionary MCM UUV (MEMUUV) CDD. Viperfish UUV is an incremental increase in capability from MK 18 MOD 2. It will leverage volume and bottom mine hunting capabilities, increase endurance from the Mod 2 system, increased depth capability, and will have embedded automated target recognition (ATR).

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)