Northrop Grumman’s Naval and Marine Systems Division in Annapolis, MD received a $17.6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for development of anti-submarine warfare swarms of autonomous, networked unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that could monitor an area. This contract includes three one-year options, which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to $44.7 million.
Modern diesel submarines have advanced propulsion systems and coatings, and many of them are hard to detect with the current sonar technologies aboard the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines and surface ships. As nations in Asia and beyond race to buy these vessels, the US Navy’s Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Task Force is preparing for that future with a new “concept of operations” that includes new tactics and new technologies. It’s the first major revision of anti-submarine doctrine since the middle of the Cold War.
The Program Executive Office, Littoral and Mine Warfare’s (PEO LMW) Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV) Program Office has begun development of the new Battlespace Preparation Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (BPAUV), under a $9.2 million contract awarded Sept. 9 to Bluefin Robotics Corp. of Cambridge, MA.
DID has covered a number of developments related to the USA’s new anti-submarine doctrine, designed to counter the threat of ultra-quiet diesel submarines in shallow littoral waters. Battlespace preparation is an important component, and this award also relates to the USA’s overall littoral warfare capability and the ongoing design of the mission package complements for the USA’s new Littoral Combat Ship.
In a September 2005 article, DID referred in passing to several recent advances in US mine detection technologies, including a new AQS-20A mine detecting sonar array, and airborne laser systems mounted to MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopters. All of this is in the service of the USA’s new naval emphasis on littoral warfare and accompanying doctrinal changes.
So, what’s the AN/AQS-20? And how is it also related to a new US ship class, not to mention a new undersea robot?
General Bryan “Doug” Brown is the commander, United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, FL. As commander, he is responsible for all special operations forces of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps; active duty and reserve. In a recent interview with SOTECH Editor Jeff McKaughan, Gen. Brown discussed some of the changes in SOCOM’s procurement responsibilities and involvements, International SOF Week, key procurement programs, and the road ahead for SOCOM. India Defence has more.
Northrop Grumman Corp’s Electronic Sensors and Systems/Oceanic and Naval Systems in Annapolis, MD won a $7.4 million cost-plus-award-fee contract for the development of components, systems, and subsystems to provide sonar solutions for high-resolution bottom mine detection and classification for use in unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) applications.
Work will be performed in Annapolis, MD and is expected to be complete by February 2007. This contract was competitively procured via a Topical Broad Agency Announcement, and eight offers were received. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI issued the contract (N66604-05-C-0997).
Soldiers in Iraq aren’t the only people using remote control vehicles to investigate suspicious activities without getting too close. Singapore just unveiled a fleet of two-ton Spartan Scout Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV), which Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean said would give the city-state a high-tech boost in the battle against maritime piracy and terrorism. “The USVs allow ships to deploy such a vessel without getting the men into too close contact with a suspicious boat, which may have undesirable intentions,” Teo told reporters after the demonstration.
The Spartan Scout is a 7-11 meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat that can operate by remote control as a modular, reconfigurable, multi-mission, high-speed, semi-autonomous unmanned surface vehicle (USV) capable of carrying payloads of 3,000 pounds (7-meter) or 5,000 pounds (11-meter). At present they carry sensors, but plans are underway to test weaponized versions, including versions that could carry Hellfire or Javelin anti-armor missiles for use against targets or small craft.
Following positive evaluations in the field by the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy has committed to a $14.5 million contract to use the ScanEagle. ScanEagle is a small GPS-guided spy plane that can linger above a designated battle space for many hours and beam back real-time pictures and positioning data. The Navy plans to use it in military operations in Iraq and other terrorism-related operations globally, but its capabilities may also make it suitable for use in a naval reconnaissance role. The low-cost, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle has already accumulated more than 2,400 flight hours in Iraq with the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The ScanEagle was developed by the Insitu Group, a small Bingen, WA company in a partnership with The Boeing Co.’s Phantom Works division. Insitu is backed by Second Avenue Partners, which was co-founded by Pete Higgins, a former Microsoft Corp. executive. Puget Sound business Journal: Navy commits to $14.5M ScanEagle contract.
Following positive evaluations in the field by the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy has committed to a $14.5 million contract to use the ScanEagle. ScanEagle is a small GPS-guided spy plane that can linger above a designated battle space for many hours and beam back real-time pictures and positioning data. The Navy plans to use it in military operations in Iraq and other terrorism-related operations globally, but its capabilities may also make it suitable for use in a naval reconnaissance role. The low-cost, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle has already accumulated more than 2,400 flight hours in Iraq with the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The ScanEagle was developed by the Insitu Group, a small Bingen, WA company in a partnership with The Boeing Co.’s Phantom Works division. Insitu is backed by Second Avenue Partners, which was co-founded by Pete Higgins, a former Microsoft Corp. executive. Puget Sound business Journal: Navy commits to $14.5M ScanEagle contract.
Following positive evaluations in the field by the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy has committed to a $14.5 million contract to use the ScanEagle. ScanEagle is a small GPS-guided spy plane that can linger above a designated battle space for many hours and beam back real-time pictures and positioning data. The Navy plans to use it in military operations in Iraq and other terrorism-related operations globally, but its capabilities may also make it suitable for use in a naval reconnaissance role. The low-cost, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle has already accumulated more than 2,400 flight hours in Iraq with the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
The ScanEagle was developed by the Insitu Group, a small Bingen, WA company in a partnership with The Boeing Co.’s Phantom Works division. Insitu is backed by Second Avenue Partners, which was co-founded by Pete Higgins, a former Microsoft Corp. executive. Puget Sound business Journal: Navy commits to $14.5M ScanEagle contract.
