Navy seeks feedback on R&D for unmanned undersea vehicle

The Naval Sea Systems Command wants feedback from industry on research and development of the capabilities related to large displacement unmanned undersea vehicles.

The command is trying to determine the technical and manufacturing capabilities, knowledge and experience that industry has to build such as undersea vehicle. An industry day held in September was the launching point for the research and development and the command is now seeking information on architecture, design and prototyping efforts, and incremental capability fielding strategies.

Under this new request for information, the command wants to know what industry had done regarding researching and developing the unmanned vehicle and the results of their testing.

The command foresees the vehicle as capable of intelligence preparation of the operational environment, below-water intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance. The military has yet to determine additional capabilities, but officials want improved battlespace awareness undersea.

The Naval Sea Systems Command released the RFI May 20. Responses are due by June 20.