DTXG micro-AUV · UK public procurement notice

This Pre-Market Engagement seeks to identify suppliers whose Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) can meet the MOD’s Minimum Viable Requirement (MVR) and to understand which platforms may support future development. This is not an evaluative exercise and nothing in this activity will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow-on ITT.

The Royal Navy’s Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) delivers a range of operational outputs, including protection of critical undersea infrastructure in home waters and deployed support to maritime operations. Inherent in these tasks is a requirement to survey and understand the underwater battlespace; tracking undersea cables and pipelines, charting beaches, ports and maritime infrastructure, and plotting potential obstructions or objects. These operations will frequently need to be conducted from small boats by light-role teams at significant range from a host platform. The possibility for sub-surface deployment and recovery is desirable.

To meet this requirement, DTXG is exploring a portable, single operator deployable AUV system for environmental data gathering, survey operations, and exploratory autonomous missions in coastal/offshore waters. The rapid procurement of this system will allow the development of the capability alongside the Original Equipment Manufacturer; the key user requirements are below in the following format:

Requirement Area - Requirement Statement - Minimum Requirement

1. Depth Performance - Operate effectively in coastal and shelf-sea environments requiring mid-depth capability - equal to or greater than 300 m depth rating
2. Portability - Deployable and recoverable by a single operator without mechanical lifting assistance - Single-person portable & recoverable; no mechanical/specialist Launch And Recovery System
3. Endurance - Support meaningful survey/data-gathering missions - multi-hour mission capability
4. Navigation & Comms - Operate safely and autonomously using standard technologies - Autonomous nav/comms suite suitable for AUV operations
5. Modularity/Deployment Pathway (Desirable) - Provide scope for future payloads, upgrages or development - Modular payload or development pathway (desirable)