The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit has launched a commercial solutions opening to identify technologies capable of countering unmanned underwater vehicle, or UUV, threats, the U.K. Defence Innovation said Thursday.
What Is the REEF Program?
The Robotic Exclusion and Engagement Framework, or REEF, is a program designed as a rapid-acquisition pathway that allows companies to pitch technology directly to the government. The effort focuses on developing integrated capabilities to address growing risks posed by UUVs against ports, harbors and naval forces. U.K. companies under a joint innovation effort are encouraged to participate. Interested companies can submit their responses by April 3.
What Capabilities Are Being Sought?
The U.S. and U.K. are looking for technologies, such as sensors for detecting, tracking and classifying unmanned underwater threats in complex maritime environments. Another focus area is defeat mechanisms, which includes non-kinetic approaches such as decoy systems, barriers, nets and acoustic systems. Other priority technologies include data and network architecture and common operating picture or command-and-control systems.
How Is the UK Involved in the REEF Program?
The U.K. Defence Innovation, or UKDI, initiated the program, with Cyber and Specialist Operations Command’s jHub evaluating submissions for potential defense use. The effort follows a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. DIU and UKDI, formalizing collaboration on advanced technology challenges. REEF is one of the first programs under that agreement.
Other Underwater Defense Efforts
In related developments, the European Defence Agency completed the second phase of its Swarm of Biomimetic Underwater Vehicles project, a four-year initiative focused on enhancing coordination among autonomous underwater systems. Meanwhile, Thales’ U.K. subsidiary has delivered the first of several autonomous mine-hunting systems to the Royal Navy under a $239.3 million contract with the U.K. Ministry of Defence.