IDGA

Tango Bravo R&D Project to Drive Down Sub Size

Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, DARPA, Design Innovations, FOCUS Articles, General Dynamics, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, R&D - Contracted, Submarines, Testing & Evaluation, University-related

Advertisement
Submarine
It’s not the size of the
sub that counts…OK, it is

No, not Tango Uniform – Tango Bravo, as in “technology barriers.” The Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plan to pour $97 million between 2004-2009 into a new joint project known as Tango Bravo, asks what technologies would be required for a new attack submarine that could have all the capabilities of the current Virginia Class boats, but at half the size and half the build cost. As a comparison, SSN-774 Virginia Class attack submarines are 377 feet in length, and have a 34-foot beam. They cost approximately $2.0-2.5 billion each.

Tango Bravo grew out of a joint Navy-DARPA study that ended in May 2004. It looked at a number of factors that affect the size and cost of hull, mechanical and electrical systems on a submarine. Led by Naval Sea Systems Command’s Program Executive Officer for Submarines, Tango Bravo is a demonstration project aimed at bringing fundamental change to future U.S. submarines, while maintaining or improving their current capabilities. This updated DID Focus Article offers a snapshot of DARPA’s program, and looks at the contracts and winners that are beginning to shake out…

Displaying 196 of 1,405 words (about 4 pages)


Subscribe to DID's Defense Industry Insider
Get the rest of this story by signing up for the Defense Industry Insider - the military acquisition knowledge base that's updated daily. Your choice of monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription starting from less than $46 per month.
  • Follow the 80/20 rule and save time
  • Don't miss important facts
  • Get the big picture, quickly
  • Eliminate your blindspots
  • Stay on top of new and forthcoming events
  • Ability to conduct complex searches
  • Procurement and doctrine issues
  • Timeline of past and future program events
  • Links to other useful resources
  • Instant content access after payment
"Well written, interesting daily with information not readily available elsewhere...! You handle it with aplomb!" - a defense contractor CEO
Subscribe Now