Advanced Undersea Prototyping

The Department of the Navy's unmanned undersea systems portfolio is a multi-faceted approach to address a Joint Emergent Operational Need and enhance capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. The UUV FoS portfolio includes the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV), which features a modular payload bay for current and future systems. To accelerate development of XLUUV capabilities, the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) project will leverage commercial sources and rapid prototyping through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). This effort is complemented by stationary systems like Liberator, a seabed-positioned launcher for deploying various payloads in hard-to-reach areas, and the Hunter payload, which provides advanced mining capabilities for XLUUV platforms. A dedicated test and evaluation branch supports the entire portfolio, managing test programs from contractor testing to operational assessments to ensure the timely delivery of these critical undersea capabilities.

The Dragonfish project is a direct response to specific operational needs established by both the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The Dragonfish is being developed as a UUV capable of conducting one-way attacks, providing a crucial offensive capability against both surface naval targets and fixed land-based infrastructure.

The MK18 Expeditionary Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) programs represent a critical portfolio of capabilities, directly supporting the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO) strategy to hedge our forces against evolving maritime threats. This portfolio is centered on a dynamic approach of integrating, experimenting with, and maturing advanced technologies to ensure a persistent undersea advantage. The MK18 Expeditionary UUV programs develop, field and sustain advanced and highly portable UUVs to support a variety of critical naval missions. The Family of Systems consists of the fielded MK 18 MOD 1 Swordfish small UUV and MK 18 MOD 2 Kingfish medium UUV, both in sustainment. The MK 18 family also consists of the next generation cybersecure MK 18 MOD 3 Lionfish, currently in full rate production and intended as a small UUV replacement to the MK 18 MOD 1. The Lionfish has greater endurance, depth, sensor, autonomy, cybersecurity and other improvements over the Swordfish. Finally, the MK 18 family consists of the MK 18 MOD 4 Viperfish, currently in development and test/evaluation, and intended as a more capable and more expeditionary deep water UUV replacement to the larger MK 18 MOD 2. The Viperfish smaller size allows launch, recovery and movement from a much larger host of platforms, to include the 9-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat, and will leverage volume and bottom minehunting at the same or deeper depths as the larger legacy MK 18 MOD 2. These programs provide required unmanned capabilities to expeditionary forces such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) platoons, Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures (ExMCM) companies, Mobile Diving and Salvage units, Naval Special Warfare forces, USMC Littoral forces, and UUV Squadrons. They provide a safe and effective means to conduct mine countermeasures, surveillance, and intelligence gathering; enabling the remote detection and neutralization of underwater threats like mines and IEDs, and the detection, classification and localization of other items of interest. They directly support fleet battle group maneuver through key maritime terrain both in deep water and in chokepoints, along with contested logistics, Maritime Homeland Defense, and amphibious operations.

The Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) project will conduct competitive Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle capability demonstrations leveraging commercial sources and non-developmental prototypes in accordance with FY25 NDAA section 1032. The project will use the Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) Commercial Solution Opening (CSO) process, prototyping, and spiral development. Systems will be assessed on vehicle range, payload capacities, and technical maturity to meet Indo-Pacific Command requirements.