Unmanned Surface Vehicle Enabling Capabilities
Abstract
In order to accelerate future capability and support steady growth of the Navy's Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Family of Systems (FoS), the USV Enabling Capabilities project includes the development, test, and integration of USV technologies, the advancement of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Industry USV efforts for associated technologies, and the development and fabrication of payloads for Large Unmanned Surface Vessels (LUSVs) and Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MUSVs). USV technology efforts in this project unit support the development and demonstration of autonomy, communications, USV Operations Centers, sensor and component integration for navigation compliance and reliability, data management, machinery qualification, noncombat payload development, and enabling technologies for other USVs in the USV FoS, as applicable. In support of this development work, the Navy has developed a holistic USV work breakdown structure (WBS) framework to help coordinate developmental and systems engineering efforts applicable across the USV portfolio. The WBS categories are divided into broad key enablers, including HM&E (1.0), C4I (2.0), USV ICS (3.0), Common Control System (CCS) (4.0), autonomy/perception/data (5.0), and prototyping efforts (6.0). The HM&E (WBS 1.0) portion of this project supports laboratory modeling and testing of contractor furnished Machinery Control Solutions as well as vendor qualification of engines. The C4I (WBS 2.0) portion of this project funds efforts to develop, test, and demonstrate autonomous communication hardware and software. A key enabler to allow man-in-the-loop or man-on-the-loop control of the USVs and USV FoS will be the development of an unmanned communications suite. Initial efforts have focused on the modification of existing Program of Record of Program Executive Office (PEO) C4I systems. Further efforts are needed to engineer autonomous behaviors into the Navy's next generation of PEO C4I systems to meet USV operational needs. Additionally, this effort will include the modification and testing of cryptographic equipment as needed to obtain the necessary approvals and certifications for use in unmanned, high-threat environments. The USV ICS (WBS 3.0) portion of this project will fund efforts to develop common combat components across all USVs and integrate the data collected and transferred from a USV into the Aegis Combat Systems in support of distributed maritime operations. The CCS (WBS 4.0) portion of this project will fully support the continued development of USV control software. The autonomy/perception/data (WBS 5.0) portion of this project funds efforts to standardize autonomy architecture and interfaces, develop and test low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) autonomy functions, software modeling and simulation, and employ a Secure Development and Operations (DevSecOps) software pipeline to facilitate integration and ensure security. These autonomy efforts are executed under the Rapid Autonomy Integration Laboratory (RAIL) framework and include advanced development, prototyping, and demonstrations. The sensor and component integration for navigation compliance and reliability portion of this project funds efforts to analyze the performance of commercial hardware/software and integrate those sensors/components into USVs for improved performance. These funds also identify gaps in performance for future SBIRs, Department of Defense Science and Technology efforts, and industry feedback as well as establish standards of performance for future contracting actions. The data management portion of this project will develop the data infrastructure needed to collect, store, and analyze data from the USVs in order to certify system performance, maintain and improve software, and identify sensors/components in need of further improvement. The prototyping efforts (WBS 6.0) portion of this project funds outfitting of the USV Operations Center. These Operations Centers will allow the Fleet to control multiple USVs and multiple types of USVs simultaneously, conduct exercises, and continue CONOPS development. This portion of the project also funds the development and acquisition of noncombat modular payloads employed by USVs. Payloads will be customized to meet Navy needs and demonstrate useful capability for the Fleet. Some examples include Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads as well as persistent airborne systems that extend the C2 reach of host platforms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 3067_0605513N_4_1319_PB_2025
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