RFI0030 - Underwater Force Protection Capabilities

Tender description

This is an Request For Information (RFI), not a tender opportunity. The Royal Navy is seeking information on current and future Underwater Force Protection capabilities including portable or fixed sonar systems, other find capabilities, anti-diver and counter UUV capabilities. UW PROTECT, within Navy DEV, are interested in exploring the options of deployable underwater protection systems which can be deployed on board all RN Vessels in both UK waters and overseas. These systems should be able to detect and track all underwater contacts ranging from larger targets such as UUVs to smaller targets such as smaller UUVs, ROVs and Divers. They should be able to clearly detect and track these contacts in both shallow and deep water with a range out to 1000m, as a minimum. They should be able to operate with accuracy within busy harbour and anchorage environments which have a high traffic density. Such systems should be person portable, with a simple user interface, and be quick and easy to deploy at short notice. UW PROTECT are also interested in current and future fixed underwater protection capabilities which could be installed to protect UK national maritime infrastructure or installed within UK military ports to protect RN assets and facilities. The capability could either be a system of systems, creating a multi-layered defensive network in order to protect a large area or port, or a stand-alone system to protect a single units or piece of military infrastructure. The fixed system needs to be able to detect, track, and prevent underwater hostile action from taking place. This RFI therefore aims to understand the technology that is both in development, and that already exists but maybe had not considered a Defence use case. This information will be used to inform potential future investment.