US Navy prepares to deploy largest type of underwater drone allowed

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – On December 23, 2020, the US Navy issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of the largest type of underwater drone the Navy can deploy, the Eurasian Times reports. Named “Snakehead,” this type of Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) will be launched from nuclear submarines to conduct electronic warfare (EW) as well as carry out intelligence, surveillance, and anti-mine missions.

The Snakehead program is being run by the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office, a division of the Program Executive Office-Littoral Combat Ships (PEO LCS). The Navy plans to award a contract to a single bidding company for the construction of two prototype drones in fiscal year (FY) 2021. Proposals are expected in early 2021, Marine Log reports.

In a press statement about the program, the US Navy said: “Snakehead is a long-endurance, multi-mission UUV, deployed from submarine large open interfaces, with the capability to deploy reconfigurable payloads. It is the largest UUV intended for hosting and deployment from submarines.”

This LDUUV is expected to carry out over-the-horizon missions in littoral waters and is likely to boost the Navy’s endurance, range, and payload capabilities.

The Snakehead will be fully integrated with submarines that have Modernized Dry Deck Shelter and Payload Handling Systems, Marine Log said. The first vehicles will be made to support Intelligence Preparation of the Operating Environment (IPOE) missions.

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