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MEMORANDUM for SEAPOWER AND PROJECTION FORCES SUBCOMMITTEE
MEMBERS
RE: Undersea Roadmap BY: Royce Morales, HASC Intern – 6/14/16
Overview:
Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (AUVs), also known as Unmanned Undersea Vehicles
(UUVs), are essential to the Navy’s underwater environment superiority. These vehicles will
become a key asset in future years as the technological improvements in undersea sensors and
weaponry advance. Furthermore, these unmanned systems will successfully engage in
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Seabed Warfare, Deception, and other
monitoring strategies. While offensive and defensive measures are necessary for maintaining
security at the subsurface level, non-lethal and other capabilities will become essential for
mission objectives. AUVs will also become useful for penetrating rival sensors, as well as
accessing critical areas that are ill-suited for manned systems. AUVs will be assigned specific
tasks such as mine-sweeping, data collection, communications, and detection. These unmanned
systems are crucial for extended endurance missions and securing autonomous objectives. In
addition to independently performing routine tasks, AUVs will also supplement Navy surface
ships and submarines, as well as other unmanned platforms. This will expand the Navy’s
strength, reach, and control of the subsurface ocean. These could include intelligence missions,
small-scale survey missions recovering data, communications relays, conducting training, or
functioning as a decoy1. This memo will address what steps should be taken to secure undersea
dominance by 2025, AUV classes, mission objectives, advantages and disadvantages of AUVs,
and inventory requirements.
1 Pomerleau, Mike. “Bluefin’s SandShark a new breed of small,versatileunderwater drones”. Defense Systems.
June 2016.https://defensesystems.com/articles/2016/06/06/bluefin-sandshark-small-uuv.aspx
June 2016

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Undersea Warfare Missions (Current and Projected for 2025)
The strategy is aimed at enabling submarines, surface ships and some land-based
operations to take advantage of fast-emerging computer technologies2. These AUV systems have
the capability to operate and carry out a wide variety of missions. Undersea Warfare (USW)
applications can also adapt to changing missions and scenarios. Strategic deterrence, ISR,
Indications & Warning, Anti-Sub Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Naval Special
Warfare (NSW), and Mine Warfare are some AUV primary functions. New and emerging
mission areas such as Seabed Warfare, Counter-AUV Warfare, Electromagnetic Maneuver
Warfare (EMMW), Deception, and non-lethal sea control need unmanned platforms for
increasing mission success.
Seabed Warfare
This realm of undersea warfare must be addressed, since potential adversaries are
beginning to implement their own form of seabed weapons systems and sensors. An improved
2 Osborn,Kris.“New EvolvingNavy Drone Strategy Envisions MoreAutonomy, Faster Processing”.Scout. June
2016.http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1676543-navy-submarines-will-control-multiple-drones

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seabed warfare application would provide the Navy with the necessary capabilities to engage
belligerents. Systems such as Upward Falling Payloads (UFPs) would provide excellent ISR
capabilities, non-lethal sea control, as well as deception. Rear Admiral Charles Richards stated
earlier this year that “You may launch [AUVs] from a surface ship, they may be launched from
the pier. It’s just a capability, a node in an undersea constellation that will include the seabed
[and] fixed distributed systems. Not all UUVs are going to look like little submarines, there’s a
bunch of different ways to put this effect in there.”3
Counter-AUV Warfare
While having the proper systems and applications in place to engage in AUV warfare,
our adversaries will also see to it that their systems are up to par. Offensive as well as defensive
applications should be taken into consideration. Sensor systems such as radar and sonar should
be invested in, as well as defensive weapon systems. Anti-torpedo torpedo defense systems
(ATTDS) are designed to provide adequate countermeasures against enemy projectiles and have
the potential to be adapted to countering rival AUVs. Systems such as Atlas Elektronik and
Magellan Aerospace’s Anti-Torpedo Torpedo (ATT), the SeaSpider, are capable of sensing and
destroying incoming enemy torpedoes. Once completed, the SeaSpider will provide ATT
capability for hard-kill [defense] against all torpedoes in use.4
Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMMW)
EM Systems provide naval forces communications as well as information and data
transfer networks. Improvements in this area will contribute to enhanced Naval Oceanography
sensing and prediction capabilities. These integrated systems will enable resource allocation,
real-time spectrum operations, emissions control, and electromagnetic maneuver to improve the
Navy’s ability to achieve information dominance.5 This will extend the Navy’s undersea data
transfer and detection systems. For decades, Navy oceanographers have assisted the undersea
warfare community by observing, modeling and predicting how the ocean affects sound waves
traveling through the water. Now, with the EMW strategy, they will expand upon these
capabilities and provide the same level of expertise for predicting how electromagnetic waves
3 Eckstein, Megan. “Navy: Future Undersea WarfareWill HaveLonger Reach, Operate With Network of Unmanned
Vehicles”. USNI News. March 2016. https://news.usni.org/2016/03/24/navy-future-undersea-warfare-will-have-
longer-reach-operate-with-network-of-unmanned-vehicles
4 “Atlas Elektronik, Magellan Aerospace sign MOU for anti-torpedo torpedo development”. Naval Today. June
2016.http://navaltoday.com/2016/06/03/atlas-elektronik-magellan-aerospace-sign-mou-for-anti-torpedo-
torpedo-development/
5 “Office of Naval Research Awards $800 Million Electromagnetic Maneuver WarfareContract”. AFCEA. April 2016.
http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=Blog-office-naval-research-awards-800-million-electromagnetic-maneuver-
warfare-contract

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will move through the physical battlespace.6 Furthermore, EMMW applications will improve
intelligence gathering capacity; enhance targeting acquisitions, and antagonist strength
estimations.
Deception
These tactics will involve information manipulation of key adversary sensors and weapon
systems. Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) capabilities will be integral strategies when
confronted or engaging in contested undersea environments. Deception strategies will promote
subsurface supremacy by way of AUV decoy measures for protecting surface ships and
submarines.
Non-Lethal Sea Control
It is important to consider offensive as well as defensive countermeasures in an undersea
warfare scenario, unorthodox approaches are sometimes necessary for maintaining dominance
there. While some non-lethal weapon systems have been tested on surface UVs, some of those
systems could benefit UUVs as well. Acoustic hailers, stun munitions, and even radar jammers
could be adapted to undersea vehicle designs. Capabilities to support non-lethal options against
sea control targets could be used in conditions short of war (i.e. Phase 0 and Phase 1 activities),
supporting de-escalation or political messaging during times of heightened tensions.7 Another
type of non-lethal sea control would be adversary submarine tracking by a launched AUV, and
the ability for the vehicle to send location updates back to the communications center.
Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (AUVs)
Also known as Unmanned Underwater Vehicles, (UUVs) are subsurface vehicles
controlled remotely from a littoral or ocean-based platform. They have the means to conduct
submerged operations, command and control (C2) by way of man-in-the-loop is not required,
and they can utilize propulsion systems for executing specific tasks. Their ability to remain on
station for extended periods—on the order of months—is extremely valuable in terms of data
collection and would make them a valuable asset to the Navy’s mission.8 AUVs are made up of
three distinct classes: self-propelled, environmentally-powered, and other systems.
6 “Naval Oceanography Releases Electromagnetic Maneuver WarfareStrategy”. Navy. March 2016.
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=93788
7 “REPORT TO CONGRESS: Autonomous Undersea Vehicle Requirements for 2025”. Chief of Naval Operations,
Undersea Warfare Directorate. February 2016. https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=791491
8 Johns, Seneca R. “AUTOMATED SUPPORT FOR RAPID COORDINATION OF JOINT UUV OPERATION”. Naval
Postgraduate School. March 2015.www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a620761.pdf

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Self-Propelled
 Extremely Large AUVs: Diameter more than 7 feet, they are launched from the shore or
ocean-based platform with loading and unloading equipment like cranes and well decks.
 Large AUVs: Between 21” and 84”, these are capable of being deployed from LOS
ANGELES-class nuclear-powered submarine (SSN), VIRGINIA-class SSN or SSGNs, as
well as surface ships capable of stowage and handling facilities. Virginia Payload Tube
(VPT) and Virginia Payload Module (VPM) capable of vertical submarine tube launch by
way of Universal Launch and Recovery Mechanisms. An example of a large AUV would
be Bluefin Robotics’ Knifefish. This vehicle will be used to advance the Naval Research
Laboratory’s low-frequency broadband (LFBB) payload technology and support the
Navy’s counter-mine efforts.9
 Medium AUVs: Between 10” and 21” in diameter. These are SSN or SSGN deployable
from standard torpedo tubes (21-inch, all subs), large torpedo tubes (26-inch on
SEAWOLF subs), Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes (21” vertical-oriented
inaccessible tubes), or Virginia Lock-Out Trunk (30-inch hatch).
 Small AUVs: Between 3” and 10” in diameter. These can be man-portable, capable of
deployment from subs, surface ships, or larger AUVs. They can also be launched from a
submarine’s 3-inch loadable launcher and 10-inch Trash Disposal Unit, and Virginia
Lock-Out Trunks, or externally loaded and launched from the 6-inch countermeasure
launchers or Universal Modular Mast (UMM) receptacle in the sail. For surface ships,
small AUVs can be launched and received from the side. Submarines will launch these
9 Bluefin Robotics Strategic Programs.2016. http://www.bluefinrobotics.com/strategic-programs/

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small AUVs but not recover them. Smaller AUVs will be given mainly autonomous tasks
such as data collection and sensor capabilities, and usually will involve man-out-of-the-
loop operations. Atlas Elektronik’s SeaCat platform is used in mine detection operations.
Environmentally-Powered AUVs (Wave Gliders also classified as Unmanned Surface
Vehicles [USVs])
 Buoyancy Gliders: Small to medium-sized AUVs that utilize changes in buoyancy to
move a set of fixed wings. While this platform’s speed is limited in scope, the reserved
power is used for its sensor capabilities and communications. Useful for endurance
applications lasting up to several months. These AUVs can also be launched and
recovered from small ships and rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs).
 Wave Gliders: These are AUVs that has a surface-based system attached to a glider
device submerged several feet below. Movement is achieved by wave motion and
converted to thrust by glider winglets. The surface-based system has batteries as well as
solar panels for extended-range endurance tasks. The Sensor Hosting Autonomous
Remote Craft (SHARC), created by marrying Liquid Robotics' autonomous Wave Glider
SV3 with Boeing's sensors and communications expertise, has demonstrated an ability to
communicate with unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and to detect undersea platforms.10
10 Grace, Jean. “Navy League 2016: Boeing-Liquid Robotics partnership yieldingpersistentunmanned maritime ISR
capability”.IHS Jane’s 360.May 2016. http://www.janes.com/article/60498/navy-league-2016-boeing-liquid-
robotics-partnership-yielding-persistent-unmanned-maritime-isr-capability

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Other Deployable Undersea Sensor and Communications Systems
 Unattended Detection Systems: Sensors or nodes at the subsurface or seabed levels that
are used to collect acoustic or non-acoustic signals and relay them back to
communication centers. Their main task would be to fill gaps in deep water
environments until a more permanent system is feasible.
 Energy Replenishment, data management, and communications infrastructure: By
the year 2025, these functions will provide strategies to the challenges at the present for
UUVs.
AUV MissionPerformance
The emerging field of autonomous and unmanned vehicles provides naval forces with
cutting-edge applications for performing specific or wide-ranging missions. Additionally,
battlespace acoustics, command and control for multiple undersea systems, payloads for
countermeasures and decoys, and special operations support as other areas to consider for future

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development to enhance the Navy’s advantage under the ocean.11 It is important to understand
the distinctions between missions and tasks by way of joint doctrine. Missions are a task with a
designated purpose, and it clearly indicates the action to be taken and the reason.12 A task is a
clearly defined action or activity specifically assigned to an individual or organization that must
be done as it is imposed by an appropriate authority. Another improvement in this area of AUV
innovation is integrated warfare to better connect different weapons platforms whether they be in
the air, on land, or out at sea. With a limited amount of platforms and dollars at their disposal,
the sea services are looking to create “kill webs” — networks of sensors, data links and weapons
that would give U.S. forces a more powerful punch.13 This strategy is critical, especially when
AUVs are being launched by a submarine or Destroyer. The unmanned vehicles would be
deployed, taking over a specific task or objective it is assigned to, while that frees the submarine
or Destroyer from that task, allowing the crew to focus on other areas of operation.
Up to the present, military missions have been either manned or done by man-in-the-loop
processes. Manned systems are capable of tasks and purposes of a mission’s guidelines. The
“purpose” of a mission is necessary for decentralized C2 of units on the frontlines. Conditions
and objectives can change, sometimes rapidly, and manned or man-in-the-loop units are able to
modify and adapt to these situations. With devices in the water to provide early warnings, the
Navy would not have to keep P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft continuously patrolling in case
something happens. A cluster of SHARCs, for instance, could be forward deployed, close to the
threat. P-8s would be spared from 24/7 duty and would only respond when there’s real danger.14
With regard to AUVs, those given extended endurance tasks will experience difficulty
when confronted with specified tasks. These autonomous systems will need extensive attention
when responding to changes in environment or objectives during missions. AUVs will depend on
their external communicators until an advanced sensor capability can address this shortfall. Until
then, naval forces will depend on AUVs for specified “tasks” and those systems will continue to
improve undersea warfare operations.
AUVs: Advantages in Undersea Warfare (USW)
These unmanned platforms will be able to access parts of the ocean that are hard to reach
and that are unsafe for manned applications. They will help alleviate costs for the Navy,
11 Eckstein, Megan. “Undersea WarfareDirectorateLooking To IncreaseDominance through Key Investments”.
USNI News. October 2015. https://news.usni.org/2015/10/22/undersea-warfare-directorate-looking-to-increase-
dominance-through-key-investments
12 “Joint Publication 3-0”.Joint Operations. August 2011. http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_0.pdf
13 Harper, Jon. “Navy Sees Future Combat Power in Information Networks”. June 2016.
http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2016/July/Pages/NavySeesFutureCombatPowerinInformationN
etworks.aspx
14 Erwin, Sandra I.“The Promiseof Technology: Navy Could Save Billions of DollarsSendingRobots to Patrol the
Oceans”. National Defense Magazine. June 2016.
http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2016/June/Pages/ThePromiseofTechnologyNavyCouldSaveBilli
onsofDollarsSendingRobotstoPatroltheOceans.aspx

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especially when planned to execute repetitive tasks that other manned applications or systems
may have been responsible for. To further that point, increased coverage at a more consistent rate
will be able to outperform manned systems. Also, AUVs provide the answer to the gap capability
question: seabed and deep sea regions. The seabed systems will help provide data collection,
monitoring and surveillance, sensor, and detection against adversaries. When operating in deep
sea environments, unmanned applications will be able to exceed demands of manned systems.
Furthermore, AUVs will act as decoys to protect submarine manned systems as surface ships.
Against active sonars, undersea platforms could—by themselves or in concert with UUVs and
other stationary or floating systems—conduct acoustic jamming or decoy operations similar to
those done by electronic warfare systems against radar.15 They will also act as communications
nodes, assisting with the relay of intelligence to fleet operation communication centers. These
advantages will allow the Navy to easily integrate these unmanned systems into the modern force
structure. Another advantage of AUV platforms is the utilization of other AUVs, and specifically
other unmanned systems on the battlefield and working in tandem. Furthermore, another asset in
undersea warfare would be an AUV’s ability to engage in swarm tactics against adversaries. One
drone is intimidating enough, but that effect multiplies as you add more UAVs to the team.
According the ONR, Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) and the swarming
drones are intended to “autonomously overwhelm an adversary” in either offensive or defensive
operations, while keeping soldiers at a safe distance. The launchers’ small size allows for the
firing of UAVs from ships, vehicles, or aircraft, depending on the mission.16 This would involve
several vehicles being launched together while working in tandem to conduct ISR or to engage
adversaries. This is something that naval forces should be working on to develop an underwater
application for future use by 2025.
Another benefit of AUVs in USW is their capacity to easily integrate into the Navy’s
current operations. The unmanned systems can be married to surface ship applications,
submarine instrumentation, and even other AUVs. This allows unmanned platforms to be
adaptable to a wide variety of applications, and a myriad of missions and scenarios. However, it
is important that the Navy keeps these platforms specialized, instead of making a “Swiss Army
Knife” to tackle a wide range of circumstances.
Disadvantages in USW
One of the downsides to AUVs is the readiness of equipment and launch capabilities.
From the shore, AUVs will have to be transported to and from their area of operations. From
surface ships, the unmanned systems will need to be concealed and also successfully launched,
recovered, and stowed. Furthermore, refueling and charging of the AUV systems will have to be
15 Wang, Brian.“Undersea warfare gamechangers - China buildingupgraded SOSUS and US upgradingsensor and
fieldingnetwork of undersea robots”. May 2016.http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/05/undersea-warfare-
gamechangers-china.html
16 Furness,Dyllan.“Watch the Navy’s LOCUST launcher firereconnaissancedrones likethey’re missiles”.May 2016.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/navy-swarm-drones/

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taken into consideration when planning certain missions. For undersea launches, it is critical to
consider the nature of the submarine crew’s missions as well as the specific task of the AUV.
Submarine operating costs are already high, and incorporating an AUV application will have to
be as reliable as possible. Furthermore, the design of the AUV system should be well tested, and
not hinder the crew from carrying out their normal duties.
AUV Inventory Requirements
Within the next decade, the demand for AUVs will increase especially as adversaries are
expanding their unmanned platforms. Providing low-cost units for on shore and off shore
applications will be critical to the modern development of the Navy. However, in order for
AUVs to be cost-efficient, there must be a reduction in current submarine operations. One key
driver for far forward AUV requirements will be the 25 percent decrease in SSN force structure
over the next fifteen years.17 These unmanned systems, due to their specific tasks and duties, will
never be able to replace the multi-role activities of submarines and crews. AUVs will become a
necessary asset to the Navy’s undersea superiority in the near future. In turn, these unmanned
systems will allow the Navy to conduct a variety of operations, missions, and objectives.
Questions
Undersea Missions:
In terms of weapons applications and adversarial AUV systems, what exactly is the Navy going
to be up against? Will our platforms be able to successfully deter enemy AUVs?
Are there any new and emerging technologies that utilize electromagnetic systems? Can these
measures be adapted to the Navy’s AUV systems?
With regard to rival Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) strategies, what will be the Navy’s
strategy for employing AUV systems?
AUVs:
Are any of these research and development platforms being contracted through DoD programs
such as DIUx or DARPA?
As noted above, the variety of classes of AUVs cover a range of tasks, are there specific classes
that will be better suited for specific missions?
17 “REPORT TO CONGRESS: Autonomous Undersea Vehicle Requirements for 2025”. Chief of Naval Operations,
Undersea Warfare Directorate. February 2016. https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=791491

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In relation to acquisition and procurement, will the Navy have the capability to integrate a
substantial AUV force in the near future?
MissionPerformance:
Since these AUV systems will be operating via man-in-the-loop missions, will this lack of
personnel have an impact on the Navy’s performance as 2025 approaches?
The main function of AUV systems is to take over tasks that can be completely automated. What
are the risks when testing these exploratory platforms? What precautions are being adequately
addressed when confronted with liabilities?
AUV USW Advantages
Deception will be a key role for AUVs, will technologies such as stealth, radar jamming, or
cyber warfare be utilized to enhance their effects against adversaries?
The cost of platforms, equipment, and weapons is always increasing; do current AUV
capabilities provide incentive to help alleviate military expenditures?
Integrating AUVs into current navy surface and subsurface platforms were mentioned. In terms
of military applications, is there any room for these systems to be employed by Special Warfare
Combatant-Craft Crewman (SWCC) or Navy SEALS?
AUV USW Disadvantages
Are there any downsides to over-the-horizon radars when being employed by AUV systems?
What limitations exist for pairing these capabilities with AUVs?