The Netherlands seeks autonomous vehicle for undersea sonar system

The Netherlands is seeking industry partners to develop an autonomous undersea vehicle (AUV) as part of a new sonar system for use in mine warfare and to protect undersea infrastructure. 

According to a request for information (RFI) published on the Mercell procurement portal on 5 June by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (NLMoD), the AUV will be combined with a low frequency seabed penetrating synthetic aperture sonar (LFSAS). The integration of these technologies to create a seabed penetrating variable depth sonar (SPVDS) system is intended to enable the detection of objects buried beneath the seabed. 

The NLMoD states that it is only seeking industry input on the development of the AUV platform, as the LFSAS is due to be developed by a Dutch knowledge institute. While LFSAS is a generally established technology, a version which meets the Netherland’s specific requirements is not currently available, NLMoD confirmed to DSEI Gateway.  

Two milestones frame the SPVDS development: firstly, an AUV platform must be available for testing by the third quarter of 2027 and secondly, between three and five fully operational SPVDS systems are required by 2031. 

Contracting approaches

The NLMoD says that it has not yet settled on a contracting approach for the AUV and is using the RFI to evaluate three procurement options with industry. 

The first contracting structure would see a single company or consortium take responsibility for the entire project. They would provide the AUV platform, support the research phase, develop and test an SPVDS prototype, and ultimately produce three to five operational systems.  

The second approach splits the development process into two separate contracts. One contract would focus solely on the provision of an AUV platform in time for the research phase in 2027, while a later contract would cover the development and production of the operational SPVDS systems. Should the Netherlands opt for this structure, the NLMoD notes that companies winning the initial contract would not be guaranteed a role in the later one.  

Lastly, a third structure from the NLMoD encourages respondents to propose their own alternative contracting structures. The RFI says that “innovative and practical proposals” that would be suitable for the development of the SPVDS systems are welcome.  

The RFI sits within the broader context of the RNLN's Future Vision Maritime Uncrewed plan, published in April, which sets out a 10-year roadmap for integrating uncrewed systems into its fleet.  

Responses to the RFI are due by 3 July via Mercell.