Navy Researching Long-Range Aerial Delivered Maritime Mines

摘要

The Navy is seeking white papers from industry to determine capabilities to design, build and deliver a long-range air delivered maritime mine, according to a July 29 notice. The Request for Information (RFI)/sources sought notice was issued for the Navy's Program Executive Office Undermanned and Small Combatants, Mine Warfare Program Office (PMS 495). The RFI is only for market research purposes to determine "whether industry possesses the requisite capabilities to successfully design, manufacture, assemble, test and deliver a longrange air delivered maritime mine." The notice explained combatant commanders need the capability to accurately place maritime mines in contested environments and current capabilities include legacy air-delivered Quickstrike-series mines. Mine laying aircraft must fly directly over each planned minefield at low speed and altitude to deliver the mines, which leaves aircraft vulnerable to opponent anti-aircraft weapons.