US Navy Plans to Deploy Submarine-Launched Drones in 2024, Rear Admiral Says

The U.S. Navy is planning to deploy in 2024 an L3Harris-made unmanned undersea vehicle designed for launch from a submarine torpedo tube, Rear Adm. Rob Gaucher, special assistant to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said. 

Speaking at the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium on Wednesday, Gaucher added that such deployment is “going to be a big deal,” as it enables a start on providing UUV launch capability on every submarine, C4ISRNET reported. 

Other Navy efforts toward subs’ drone deployment that Gaucher cited include the Submarine Force Atlantic’s Yellow Moray, which tested defense contractor HII’s Remus UUV. Submarine Force Pacific also performed a similar Rat Trap exercise, which launched and recovered an L3Harris-made UUV from a submarine torpedo tube.

The Navy’s Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants is pursuing the development of sub-operated medium UUV, which aims to create a standard drone for mine countermeasure missions. 

Capt. Kevin Smith, PEO USC head, told the naval symposium that the Navy’s drone designs for subs are undergoing the critical review process. He added that the service’s industry partners, Leidos and L3Harris Technologies, are helping accelerate the UUVs’ development and have built a demonstration model using their research and development budget.