Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

Abstract

The Snakehead Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV) is the Navy's Large UUV effort as part of the Family of UUVs, in support of maintaining the Navy's undersea superiority. It is the Navy's largest Submarine-launched UUV, providing increased endurance, depth capability, and payload capacity beyond small and medium class submarine deployed UUVs. The Snakehead LDUUV is modular in design and includes high accuracy mission sensors and communications links, as well as modular payload capabilities. Modules have well defined interfaces for the purposes of implementing cost-effective upgrades in future increments to leverage advances in technology. The Snakehead LDUUV program is a CNO/ASN(RDA) approved Accelerated Acquisition, featuring a phased approach to grow capabilities at a manageable level of risk. Phase 1 is a Government developed prototype with significant Industry involvement to develop Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures (TTPs), Concepts of Operation (CONOPS), and risk reductions for submarine and surface ship integration. One Phase 1 vehicle, with sufficient test spares, was fabricated and commenced subsystem testing in FY 2021 and vehicle in-water testing in FY 2022. Future LDUUV requirements include increased capabilities and integration onto submarines, as well as integration onto surface ships. Phase 2 efforts were stopped in FY 2022.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2025
Source ID
0604031N_4_1319_PB_2025
Change Summary Explanation
Technical: Not applicable. Schedule: Not applicable. Cost: FY 2023: No Change FY 2024: No Change FY 2025: -0.163M Miscellaneous adjustment
Service Agency Name
Navy

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Readers

  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy

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