The U.S. Navy plans to brief contractors next month on its requirements for the new Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) program.
An industry day is scheduled for Jan. 12 and will be followed by one-on-one sessions Jan. 13, according to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).
NAVSEA issued a draft request for proposals for the XLUUV last month and plans to release a final RFP in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017.
Nidak Sumrean, executive director of the program executive office for Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), which includes the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office, said at a conference in October that the Navy intends to build five XLUUV vehicles and deliver them to the fleet “in the next couple of years.”
The XLUUV will be greater than 54 inches in diameter and have long range and endurance. It could support multiple missions, including mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
According to the Navy’s FY 2017 budget request, XLUUV testing will include both explosive and non-lethal payloads. The non-lethal payloads could include dazzling, jamming or microwaves and would “provide the warfare commander an option to stop aggressive behavior without escalating the conflict,” the budget documents say.