RFI: Aerial maritime mine delivery

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 Request for Information (RFI)/sources sought notice issued for the Navy’s Program Executive Office of Undermanned and Small Combatants, Mine Warfare Program Office. 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 long-range air delivered maritime mine.” The notice said combatant commanders need the capability to accurately place maritime mines in contested environments. and current capabilities include legacy air-delivered Quickstrike-series mines. The maritime mines may be required to deliver at least a 500-pound explosive payload at a minimum of 100 nautical miles, but the RFI requests a preferred 2,000-pound payload of more than 100 nautical miles. Industry is also being requested to comment on how the government can “best satisfy its needs, alternative approaches, technology availability and risk, the identification of cost drivers, and suggestions on ways to enhance or sustain competition.” Responses are due by Aug. 28. (Source: Defense Daily 07/29/20) https://www.defensedaily.com/navy-researching-long-range-aerial-delivered-maritime-mines/navy-usmc/