Suppliers: Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV)

Advanced Navigation

Compact Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for Complex Autonomous Underwater Missions

Greensea IQ

Autonomous Military Robotics and Technologies | Amphibious Tracked Vehicles

Forcys

Undersea Sensing, Communications, Imaging, Control and Navigation Solutions for Naval Forces

ALSEAMAR

Advanced Naval Defense Solutions & Services for Marine & Submarine Applications

Teledyne Marine

Imaging Systems, Rugged Underwater Sensors, Autonomous & Unmanned Vessels for Defense & ISR

Showcase your capabilities

If you design, build or supply Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV), create a profile to showcase your capabilities and connect with visitors who have an active requirement for your solutions.

Create Supplier Profile

Products

7 Cutting-edge Solutions
Add your solutions
Hydrus AUV

Compact Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for Complex Autonomous Underwater Missions

Compact Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for Complex Autonomous Underwater Missions
...r a variety of applications including underwater mapping, naval facilities inspection and subsea...
Bayonet 350

Largest military crawler robot for harshest conditions with maximum payload capacity

Largest military crawler robot for harshest conditions with maximum payload capacity
...r designed for military land, littoral and underwater operations in a range of challenging...
Bayonet 150

Highly portable amphibious robot for lighter payloads

Highly portable amphibious robot for lighter payloads
...r designed for military land, littoral and underwater operations in a range of challenging...
Bayonet 250

Mid-range amphibious tracked vehicle for nearshore, estuarine and inland environments

Mid-range amphibious tracked vehicle for nearshore, estuarine and inland environments
...r designed for military land, littoral and underwater operations in a range of challenging...
SEAEXPLORER 1000-M

Extended-endurance underwater stealth glider for naval defense missions

Extended-endurance underwater stealth glider for naval defense missions
...ER 1000-M is a military-configured underwater glider designed to support a range of naval defense... ...r security and defense operations, the platform is subject to export licensing and will be available...
Slocum G3 Glider

Endurance Autonomous Underwater Glider for Defense

Endurance Autonomous Underwater Glider for Defense
...ous glider for military applications. Small development programs and large fleets supported. ...
Gavia AUV

Field-changeable AUV for Military & Security

Field-changeable AUV for Military & Security
Suited to defense and security applications the Gavia AUV can carry a variety of modular sensors...

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) for Military and Defense Applications

Olivia Hannam

Updated:

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) encompass a range of subsea platforms used for military applications, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). These systems operate across various mission profiles such as anti-submarine warfare, undersea surveillance, harbor security, and mine countermeasures. UUVs enhance maritime domain awareness while reducing operational risk to personnel and manned vessels.

Underwater robot by Greensea IQ

Bayonet 150 by Greensea IQ

Equipped with inertial navigation systems (INS), sonar, sensors, propulsion modules, and stealth capabilities, modern UUVs are designed for high endurance, precision, and autonomous functionality. They are engineered to withstand extreme underwater environments, offering reliable performance for long-duration missions across the seafloor or open ocean.

Military UUV Types and Applications

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are built in several configurations, each suited to specific operational tasks. The primary categories, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), offer complementary capabilities across various military applications.

Military ROVs

Military-spec ROVs are tethered to a host platform, providing direct control and real-time feedback. This configuration is ideal for missions that require precision, visual inspection, or manipulation:

  • Mine Countermeasures ROVs: Deploy tools to detect, classify, and neutralize naval mines with real-time operator input.
  • Underwater Inspection and Maintenance ROVs: Naval infrastructure, hulls, and submerged assets are inspected using onboard cameras and manipulators.
  • Harbor Security ROVs: Deployed from surface vessels, USVs, or dockside, these craft investigate suspicious objects and maintain underwater defenses.
  • Rescue Support ROVs: Assist in submerged personnel recovery and emergency intervention scenarios.

ROVs typically feature high-power thrusters, tethered control systems, robust cameras, and payload bays for mission tools.

Military AUVs

Military-spec AUVs are untethered and pre-programmed, relying on autonomous guidance systems to execute missions without direct operator input. This makes them suitable for:

Slocum G3 Autonomous Underwater Glider

Slocum G3 Autonomous Underwater Glider by Teledyne Marine

  • Intelligence Gathering and Surveillance AUVs: Covertly collect sonar, video, and environmental data in contested waters.
  • Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) AUVs: Conduct patrols to detect and shadow hostile submarines beyond the reach of human divers or manned platforms.
  • Mine Detection and Seabed Mapping AUVs: Use high-resolution sonars and mapping sensors to chart the seafloor and identify anomalies.
  • Maritime Domain Awareness AUVs: Long-duration missions provide strategic intelligence in EEZs and high-traffic zones.

Equipped with inertial navigation systems, acoustic modems, and efficient propulsion, AUVs can operate for days without resurfacing, supporting intelligence-driven operations.

Hybrid and Specialized UUVs

Some systems integrate features of both ROVs and AUVs. These hybrid UUVs can switch between remote control and autonomous modes, adapting to mission requirements. Specialized platforms also include:

  • Underwater Gliders: Use buoyancy shifts instead of traditional propulsion for long-range oceanographic data collection.
  • Submersible Drones with Arms or Claws: Designed for object retrieval or sample collection in UUV military reconnaissance missions.

Each UUV type is selected based on operational parameters such as depth, endurance, stealth, and mission payload.

UUV Military Standards

UUVs designed for military use often comply with a range of international and national defense standards, including:

  • MIL-STD-810: Environmental engineering considerations for ruggedization.
  • MIL-STD-882: System safety protocols.
  • STANAG 1364: NATO standardization for mine countermeasures.
  • UUV Mission Modules Standards: Specifications for payload interoperability, docking, and mission control software.

These standards ensure UUVs are interoperable, survivable, and safe for deployment in multi-national operations.

Strategic Role in Naval Modernization

As maritime threats evolve, UUVs have become integral to naval modernization efforts. Their modularity, autonomy, and survivability support expanded undersea capabilities without needing costly manned platforms. From persistent undersea surveillance to rapid response in anti-submarine warfare, UUVs are force multipliers in modern naval strategy.

Defense forces continue to invest in advanced underwater drones for both nearshore and deep-sea missions. Research and development focus areas include enhanced autonomy, power systems, communications relay modules, and AI-based guidance software.

Related Articles

Equinox Advances Mine-Hunting Performance with Integrated COTS Technologies

Forcys highlights Equinox, a remotely operated towed vehicle that combines commercial-off-the-shelf sonar, navigation, and survey technologies to improve mine-like object detection, localization, and operational coverage rates

May 29, 2026
Navigation, Imaging, & AUVs Supporting Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance

Forcys outlines how navigation, imaging, and autonomous underwater vehicle technologies supplied by its partners supported the successful discovery and documentation of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance during the Endurance22 expedition in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea

May 11, 2026
Royal Navy Expands Autonomous Mine Warfare Fleet

The Royal Navy has received the second of four remotely-controlled primary systems designed to aid underwater mine countermeasures through advanced autonomous seabed mapping and uncrewed identification technologies

Apr 17, 2026
UK MOD Selects Teledyne Marine Autonomous Systems & Persistent Oceanographic Sensors

Teledyne Marine to provide advanced autonomous gliders and floats to bolster the Royal Navy’s persistent oceanographic data collection

Apr 07, 2026
Forcys Enhances Underwater ROV Operations with Advanced Automation Software

Forcys has integrated an EIVA software package with VideoRay Defender ROVs to simplify micro ROV operations for expeditionary forces, enhancing situational awareness in challenging underwater environments while reducing piloting requirements

Apr 02, 2026
Forcys Supports Integration of Advanced Optical Payloads for Compact AUV Operations

This case study highlights how Forcys supported integration of 4K imaging and 3D laser systems into compact AUVs, enhancing detection, reacquisition, and mission performance

Mar 19, 2026
Greensea IQ Introduces Bayonet AUGV Operator Training Simulator

Greensea IQ has launched a training simulator for its Bayonet Autonomous Underwater Ground Vehicles (AUGVs), enabling operators to practice mission scenarios and supervise autonomous operations within a virtual training environment

Mar 13, 2026
Teledyne Marine Enters Strategic Partnership to Advance Naval Unmanned Systems

Teledyne Marine and M Subs sign strategic collaboration to support UK Royal Navy and international naval programs through the integration of unmanned vehicle platforms, autonomy systems, and advanced maritime sensing technologies

Mar 05, 2026
Sweden Enhances Underwater Surveillance With Teledyne Gavia AUVs & Fleet Modernization

Teledyne Marine delivers the first of four modular GAVIA autonomous underwater vehicles to support Swedish naval intelligence and seabed mapping operations

Feb 24, 2026