The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has launched the second phase of a competition to field production-ready unmanned surface vessels (USVs) capable of detecting, identifying, and neutralizing airborne threats.
The Suitable Warfighting Adaptive Payloads (SWAP)-USV initiative offers up to $40 million in awards at this stage. It seeks mature autonomous vessels equipped with hard-kill weapons, sensors, and interoperable control systems to counter low-cost drones and helicopters.
The USVs must be capable of deployment within 120 days to address a gap in the US Navy’s air defense capabilities.
The initiative aims to provide a more cost-effective response to inexpensive aerial threats, which can be uneconomical to engage with the service’s existing weapons.
Demonstrations Next Year
According to DIU’s requirements, participating vessels must sustain a cruising speed of at least 10 knots (12 miles/19 kilometers per hour), engage targets at ranges exceeding 3 nautical miles (3 miles/6 kilometers), and achieve a minimum operational range of 200 nautical miles (230 miles/370 kilometers per hour).
Preferred loadouts include Longbow Hellfire, Joint Air-Ground Missiles, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems, Stinger missiles, or high-power lasers.
DIU is expected to accept submissions through late November, with in-water testing scheduled for early 2027 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia.
Shortlisted industry partners will be required to demonstrate their integrated platforms within 30 days of selection.
Up to $200M in Follow-On Contracts
The broader SWAP-USV challenge is being conducted in collaboration with the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems, which was recently established to oversee unmanned systems efforts.
The initiative is planned to run for 12 months and is backed by $100 million in funding.
Beyond the current phase’s $40 million award pool, the government has allocated $200 million for potential follow-on prototype or production contracts.
