Unmanned Surface Vehicle Enabling Capabilities

The Unmanned Surface Vehicle Enabling Capabilities program is designed to advance the Navy's Future Surface Combatant Force and the Unmanned Surface Vehicle Family of Systems. It focuses on developing and transitioning critical technologies, standardizing autonomy architectures, and enhancing command and control systems. The program supports the integration of sensors, data management, and payload prototyping to improve operational capabilities. It also emphasizes maintaining federated systems while promoting innovation from small businesses and other Department of Defense science and technology efforts.

A key objective is to enhance autonomous systems, payloads, and sensors for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). This involves developing capabilities for medium and large unmanned surface vessels, as well as unmanned operations centers. The program leads efforts in engineering, integration, and modification activities that facilitate unmanned operations. These activities include supporting autonomy beyond line-of-sight command and control, monitoring sensitive equipment remotely, and ensuring secure communications.

The program establishes standards for autonomy, command and control interfaces, payload integration, and operations centers to support future USV development. It coordinates with various agencies such as DARPA, the Office of Naval Research, and industry partners to develop technologies that meet mission needs. A work breakdown structure framework helps manage developmental efforts across key areas like machinery control solutions, autonomous communication hardware, common combat components integration, and control software development.

Additionally, the program focuses on prototyping efforts that enable fleet exercises and concept of operations development. It supports the outfitting of USV Operations Centers to allow simultaneous control of multiple USVs. Developing noncombat modular payloads tailored to Navy requirements is also a priority. These payloads include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance systems, and persistent airborne systems that extend command reach from host platforms.