CLAWS
Abstract
The CLAWS INP effort will develop an autonomous unmanned undersea weapon system capable of providing offensive effects to the Combatant Commanders beyond Phase 0 inside the first island chain. It will clandestinely extend the reach of large UUVs and increase the mission areas into kinetic effects. CLAWS will deliver algorithms to enable all families of UUVs to operate in complex, dynamic and degraded environments. CLAWS will demonstrate autonomous missions in denied waters, develop and demonstrate autonomous technologies for survivability of large UUVs, and develop autonomy and launch capabilities for special mission payloads. CLAWS will be able to complete missions 1&2 against near peer adversary defenses, maintain critical communication with Navy C2/Fires and provide critical ISR information. The Activity identified in Project Unit 3451 specifically addresses Advanced Technology Development in support of the CLAWS INP effort. INP investments represent game changing technologies with the potential to revolutionize operational concepts. They are disruptive in nature, as they would dramatically change the way naval forces fight. Due to high technical risk, INPs typically have long duration but have no more than three years between decision points. INPs do not develop hardware for service use, rather they prove technological and production feasibility, and show naval utility and acquisition potential. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) demonstrates INPs in relevant environments. Successful experimentation and demonstrations present the Department of the Navy with disruptive capabilities that may lead to the obsolescence of existing capabilities and acquisition programs. The Department of the Navy would have to make significant acquisition decisions to integrate the new technological capabilities into naval warfighting systems. INPs are selected by a process that involves senior leadership in the Department of the Navy. Information security concerns preclude fully detailed descriptions of project efforts, research activities, and technology development plans. Specific information on each project and activity will be provided separately to the Congressional oversight committees.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 3451_0603801N_3_1319_PB_2021
Related Documents
- Root: Innovative Naval Prototypes (INP) Adv Tec Dev
- Child Accomplishment: CLAWS