Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

The Snakehead Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV) program is a significant initiative by the Navy to enhance its undersea capabilities. As part of the Family of Unmanned Undersea Vehicles, the Snakehead LDUUV is designed to maintain the Navy's undersea superiority by offering increased endurance, depth capability, and payload capacity compared to smaller submarine-launched UUVs. The program aims to develop a modular vehicle with high-accuracy mission sensors and communication links, allowing for cost-effective upgrades as technology advances. This effort is supported by the Chief of Naval Operations and Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition through an accelerated acquisition approach.

The primary objective of the Snakehead LDUUV program is to develop a government prototype with significant industry involvement to refine Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures (TTPs), Concepts of Operation (CONOPS), and risk reductions for integration with submarines and surface ships. Phase 1 involved fabricating a prototype vehicle that underwent subsystem testing in FY 2021 and in-water testing in FY 2022. Although Phase 2 efforts were halted in FY 2022 due to funding constraints, the program continues to focus on enhancing capabilities and integration onto various naval platforms.

In FY 2024, plans include restarting the LDUUV program with demonstrations and experimentation of the prototype system. This involves providing technical and systems engineering support for executing demonstrations, testing, system refurbishment, and necessary upgrades. The following year will see continued demonstrations from surface vessels of opportunity while maintaining technical support for ongoing tests and enhancements. These activities are crucial for validating the LDUUV's operational capabilities and ensuring its readiness for fleet integration.

The program also emphasizes integrated logistics support efforts to ensure sustained operational readiness. Management services are provided to support test execution and fleet demonstrations while facilitating travel for personnel involved in these activities. The strategic focus remains on leveraging industry collaboration to meet evolving requirements through market research into commercially available LDUUVs that align with program goals.