U.S. Navy advances undersea warfare via UUVs and submarine programs

The U.S. Navy is expanding its undersea warfare capabilities through significant investments in uncrewed undersea vehicles (UUVs) and advanced submarine programs. Following large-scale experimentation at Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the Pacific-based submarine force is exploring new mission sets for UUVs, including carrier-based deployment and underway replenishment for submarines in contested environments.

Integrating UUVs into carrier strike groups could extend organic reconnaissance, strike, minesweeping, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. These uncrewed systems may be deployed by helicopters or the carriers themselves to serve as extensions of the strike group.

In its fiscal year 2027 budget request, the Navy is prioritizing the Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine to replace the aging Ohio-class, requesting $332 million for the effort. The Navy is also leveraging new prototyping authorities and partnerships with the Defense Innovation Unit to accelerate the fielding of submarine technologies, focusing on autonomy, acoustics, and undersea sensing to maintain a competitive advantage.