WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Navy’s Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems (DRPM RAS), in coordination with the Department of War Innovation Unit (DIU), announced prizes to BeeX, BlackSea Technologies, and Vatn Systems following their successful demonstrations in DIU’s Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Modernization Prize Challenge.
DIU launched the Prize Challenge on May 28th to solicit commercial, communications-resilient, rapidly fieldable capabilities for mine countermeasure missions in contested environments. The challenge focused on three operational tracks: near-surface mine neutralization, bottom mine detection, and bottom mine neutralization.
“Through the partnership with DIU, in less than four months we were able to quickly move from open call to on-water testing, to contracting options and initial operational planning,” said George Saroch, DRPM RAS Program Manager for Mine Warfare. The timeline from the prize challenge announcement to an active Navy contract was just 92 days.
DIU received 80 submissions, selected 11 vendors to compete, and scored performers using a rapid assessment framework developed with Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific – Catalyst, Naval Surface Warfare Center – Panama City Division, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One operators, the Mine Warfare Readiness and Effectiveness Measuring (MIREM) team, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR), and the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.
“Fleet involvement was integral throughout the process,” stated Dr. Jarred Conley, DIU Portfolio Director for Autonomous Warfare. “By accelerating the transition of commercial technologies into operational use, DIU and the Navy are helping deliver a new generation of MCM capabilities aligned to current fleet needs.”
Commercial shippers rely on uninterrupted freedom of navigation. The prize challenge demonstrated the ability to quickly locate, identify and neutralize diverse underwater mine threats. Winning systems demonstrated in the prize challenge will be integrated into the Fleet’s autonomous MCM kits, keeping warfighters out of harm’s way.
DRPM RAS is the organization responsible for the development, requirements, and acquisition of RAS capabilities across the Department of the Navy. For more information on DRPM RAS, visit drpmras.navy.mil For more information on DIU, visit www.diu.mil.