The U.S. Coast Guard issued a request for solutions to detect and defeat uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) that threaten maritime assets. The effort, led by the Coast Guard Futures Development and Integration Directorate, was posted on the federal contracting portal and seeks technologies with a Technology Readiness Level of 5 or higher that can provide detection, tracking, identification and mitigation of UUVs.

UUVs have been used in recent conflicts, including an incident in December in which Ukrainian authorities said a UUV struck a Russian Kilo‑class submarine in Novorossiysk, and a February 2024 report from U.S. Central Command stating that CENTCOM fired on a Houthi UUV in Yemen, the first observed use of a UUV by the group since October 2023. Earlier, the Israeli Navy destroyed a Hamas UUV in 2021 that was intended to attack naval assets.

The Coast Guard’s request emphasizes the need for systems that have been tested and demonstrated in operational settings, are scalable for port and harbor security, and can integrate with existing detection networks. The Integrated Undersea Surveillance System and industry solutions such as Anduril’s Seabed Sentry and Sea Spear sonar have been demonstrated in exercises, including BALTOPS 2026, where multiple nations showcased technologies such as an expeditionary air curtain and neutralization charges intended to counter UUV threats.

Proposals are due within two weeks, and the Coast Guard has indicated that only submissions containing defeat capabilities will be considered.