The US Navy has released a request for proposals (RFP) for the design, development, and fabrication of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants' Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV) program, also known as Snakehead.
With this solicitation, the government plans to competitively award a contract to a single vendor for fabrication of two prototype vehicles in fiscal year 2021. Proposals are expected in early 2021.
Snakehead will be a long-endurance, multi-mission UUV, deployed from submarine large open interfaces, with the capability to deploy reconfigurable payloads. It will be the largest UUV intended for hosting and deployment from submarines, and has been designated a Maritime Accelerated Acquisition.
The LDUUV will achieve full integration with modernised dry deck shelter and payload handling system-equipped submarines. Initial vehicles will be designed to support intelligence preparation of the operating environment (IPOE) missions.
Future vehicle missions may include deployment of various payloads.
