Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle

What Is It?


The Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV) is an unmanned vehicle that enables persistent sensing to increase the influence and capability of the Navy.

How Does It Work?


The LDUUV program will develop fully autonomous, long-endurance, land-launched UUVs capable of operating near shore. It will extend and augment the current Navy platform capability.

What Will It Accomplish?


The LDUUV program will develop new air independent energy systems and core vehicle technologies to extend UUVs endurance into months of operation time. Advanced autonomy and sensing will enable operation in the cluttered littoral environment.

The Office of Naval Research Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Program supports technology development which includes advanced air independent energy systems and autonomy to enable months of underwater operations and sensing.

New energy sources for UUVs will increase the current energy density by five to 10 times, allow for quick recharge or refueling, enable operation at an acceptable cost level and enable pier-to-pier operation with months of endurance.

Autonomous operation in the littorals will enable the LDUUV to automatically monitor its health, execute mission plans and operate in a cluttered littoral environment.

Research Challenges and Opportunities

  • Advanced air independent UUV energy systems and core UUV technologies for months of operation time
  • Autonomy and sensing for operations in the littoral environment

Point of Contact


Daniel Deitz
daniel.deitz@navy.mil

* Some pages on this website provide links which require Adobe Reader to view.