unmanned undersea vessel Archives

Navy, DIU tap 3 vendors to build large underwater drones

Anduril Industries, Oceaneering International and Kongsberg Discovery have been awarded contracts to prototype large undersea drones for the U.S. military

Feb 8, 2024 By Jon Harper

What’s next for the Navy’s Orca unmanned submarine?

“We're super excited to have one now in our own hands,” Capt. Scot Searles said of the extra-large UUV.

Jan 12, 2024 By Jon Harper

Navy receives first Orca unmanned submarine from Boeing

The sea service wants to acquire extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles that can travel long distances and lay mines without putting sailors in harm’s way.

Dec 20, 2023 By Jon Harper

A Remote Environmental Measuring Units (REMUS) 100 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) deploys after being launched by a Sailors assigned to the Naval Oceanographic Mine Warfare Center and a REMUS Team Sailor from the Italian Mine Countermeasures Forces Command during exercise Recognized Environmental Picture Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems REP (MUS) in Sesimbra, Portugal, Sept. 19, 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Travis Simmons)

Navy eyeing new tech to help kill underwater drones and enemy divers

The Navy released a sources sought notice as it looks for a combination of capabilities to counter adversaries' unmanned undersea vehicles.

Aug 4, 2023 By Jon Harper

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) sails in the Gulf of Thailand, May 7, 2022.. The Navy is currently studying whether LCS could serve as mother ships for unmanned systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Alexandra Green)

Mother ships for drones will be ‘extremely important’ for the Navy’s future fleet, Secretary Del Toro says

The Navy is looking at options to meet that need.

Feb 22, 2023 By Jon Harper

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 prepare an underwater vehicle to search for debris during recovery efforts of a high-altitude balloon in the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 7, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Seelbach)

Navy using VideoRay’s Defender underwater drone to search for Chinese balloon debris

The DOD on Thursday released an image of a UUV being prepared for deployment by sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, which is participating in…

Feb 10, 2023 By Jon Harper

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 8, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

DOD building ‘body of knowledge’ to better detect China’s suspected spy balloons

The Defense Department has already drawn a number of key insights about what officials are calling a much “larger Chinese surveillance balloon program,” Pentagon Press Secretary Brig.…

Feb 8, 2023 By Brandi Vincent

Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Aaron Romo, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit ONE, launches a MK18 MOD 1 unmanned underwater vehicle from a rigid-hull inflatable boat on July 10, in support of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Logan C. Kellums)

Navy beginning underwater drone operations to help recover debris from downed Chinese balloon

The Navy will use UUVs to help the Defense Department recover debris from China’s suspected surveillance balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

Feb 6, 2023 By Jon Harper

Members from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 prepare the MK 18 MOD 2 Kingfish to be deployed during Exercise Noble Vanguard. The Kingfish is an unmanned underwater vehicle with the sonar capabilities to scan the ocean floor for potential mines. Noble Vanguard serves as an enabler to reinforce tactics and techniques of different mission sets that contribute to regional stability. (U.S. Navy Photo by Ensign James French)

Navy issues RFI for unmanned ‘mother ship’ that could deploy other drones

The Navy is exploring a Attritable UxS Mother Ship concept as it looks for a way to cost-effectively deliver large numbers of unmanned systems, or UxS, to…

Nov 3, 2022 By Jon Harper

A Seahawk medium displacement unmanned surface vessel participates in U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21, April 21. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe)

Navy working to prevent unmanned shipbuilders from monopolizing software integration

The sea service is also keeping an eye on industry to try to prevent shipbuilders from having too much influence over the software and AI integration market…

Sep 14, 2022 By Jon Harper