L3Harris Technologies has been awarded an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to equip U.S. Navy submarines with autonomous underwater capabilities. Under the agreement, L3Harris will deliver the Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery (TTLR) system, which enables the deployment and retrieval of Iver4 900 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) directly through torpedo tubes.
Validated by U.S. and allied navies, the TTLR system supports critical missions such as ISR, mine detection, and seabed warfare—all while allowing submarines to remain submerged and stealthy.
“The TTLR system isn’t just a future concept; it is addressing immediate combatant commander needs,” said Nino DiCosmo, President of Maritime, Space & Mission Systems at L3Harris. “By being the first to successfully launch and recover AUVs from a submarine, we are providing the fleet with unprecedented flexibility and persistent undersea presence.”
The modular system integrates with existing submarine classes, avoiding the need for costly hull modifications. Furthermore, it utilizes Navy-approved lithium-ion batteries with hot-swap capabilities for extended mission cycles. This interoperable technology also supports the AUKUS Pillar 2 framework, advancing manned-unmanned teaming across allied platforms.
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