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Mainstreaming Unmanned Undersea Vehicles into Future U.S. Naval Operations

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This consensus study assessed the potential of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) in enhancing U.S. naval operations. The study identified missions and environments in which UUVs might be called to operate, as well barriers that might inhibit mission success; evaluated the Department of the Navy’s technology activities for UUVs; and recommended operational, technical, and acquisition approaches that would more rapidly mainstream UUVs into future naval operations.

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Description

At the request of the Chief of Naval Operations, an ad hoc committee under the auspices of the Naval Studies Board of the National Research Council will conduct a study to assess the potential of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) in enhancing future U.S. naval operations. Specifically, the study will:

  1. Identify the missions and environments in which UUVs might be called upon to operate, as well any issues or barriers (e.g., policy, operational, technical) that might inhibit mission success;
  2. For each of the identified missions, assess desired UUV size, quantity, and level of coordination with other unmanned and manned counterparts;
  3. Review the Department of the Navy’s efforts for UUVs in comparison to (1) and (2);
  4. Evaluate the Department of the Navy’s technology activities for UUVs, including its vision documents and its science and technology roadmaps (e.g., in areas of autonomy, endurance, communications, sensor capabilities, weaponry, launch and recovery) against criteria selected by the committee, such as the relevance for conducting future missions, cost and time scale for deployment, scientific and technical quality, and related technology activities outside of the Navy; and
  5. Recommend operational, technical, and acquisition approaches, excluding organizational changes, that would lead to mainstreaming UUVs into future U.S. naval operations at a faster deployment schedule--to the extent needed--than currently planned.

Collaborators

Committee

Co-Chair

Co-Chair

Member

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Sponsors

Department of Defense

Staff

Cherie Chauvin

Lead

CChauvin@nas.edu

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