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US Submarine Secret Project Declassified: New Underwater Combat Power Developed for Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The U.S. Navy has begun mass production of the "Iver4 900" autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), capable of launching and recovering from torpedo tubes.
  • This technology allows attack submarines to deploy and retrieve the AUV underwater without surfacing or modifying the submarine's hull.
  • The system enhances stealth capabilities and can be used for intelligence, reconnaissance, mine detection, and defending critical infrastructure, also supporting AUKUS Pillar 2 initiatives.

A previously top-secret U.S. Navy project has been declassified, revealing the mass production of the "Iver4 900" autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Developed with the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), this advanced technology enables attack submarines to launch and recover the AUV directly through their torpedo tubes, a capability known as Torpedo Tube Launch & Recovery (TTL&R).

This breakthrough eliminates the need for costly modifications to submarine hulls or surfacing for deployment and retrieval, significantly reducing the risk of detection. The TTL&R system features an open architecture and modular design, allowing submarines to secretly release the "Iver4 900" underwater. Upon mission completion, the AUV can autonomously return and lock into a "SAFECAP" within the torpedo tube for a fully automated recovery.

The system boasts several key advantages: it integrates the first dual-certified lithium-ion battery for submarines and aircraft, enabling extended deep-sea missions; it offers comprehensive underwater capabilities for intelligence, reconnaissance, mine detection, and infrastructure defense in high-risk areas; it acts as a "force multiplier," allowing manned submarines to remain at a safe distance or maintain stealth while extending their reach; and its compatibility with various submarine models supports allied initiatives like AUKUS Pillar 2's manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) programs.

L3Harris Technologies, the company behind the AUV, stated that this development marks a critical lead in the U.S. Navy's fifth-generation underwater warfare. By integrating automated unmanned technology with existing submarines, the U.S. military gains unprecedented deep-sea awareness and extended strike capabilities while maintaining underwater stealth. This advancement is expected to profoundly impact the future global underwater strategic balance.

This technology's declassification and mass production symbolize a critical lead for the U.S. Navy in fifth-generation underwater warfare.

— L3Harris Project ManagerDescribing the significance of the new AUV technology.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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