DARPA seeks fast, cheap autonomous underwater drones in Deep Thoughts program

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has issued a call for proposals to develop small autonomous underwater vehicles under a program called Deep Thoughts. The agency wants AUVs that can be built from readily available parts, produced and iterated on within weeks or months, and deployed from submarines, ships, aircraft, and helicopters. The program reflects a Pentagon push to move faster and cheaper than traditional defense contractors, which DARPA notes are often associated with lengthy timelines and billions in cost overruns. The agency said responsive access to the deep ocean "offers a significant strategic advantage." The underwater effort follows rapid advances in uncrewed aerial vehicles. Ukrainian forces have used drones to counter Russian armor, while China has developed drone swarms that individual soldiers can control. The US Marine Corps has introduced a 3D-printed drone called HANX for in-house manufacturing, and a defense startup is marketing CobraJet counter-drone systems. DARPA's call specifically seeks alternatives to the established submarine builders General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries. The agency pointed to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier as examples of costly, drawn-out programs it wants to avoid.