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 long-range air delivered maritime mine.”

A B-52 Stratofortress conducts an operational demonstration of the Quickstrike-ER Naval mine project in the Pacific Ocean on May 30, 2019. (Photo: U.S. Navy)
A B-52 Stratofortress conducts an operational demonstration of the Quickstrike-ER Naval mine project in the Pacific Ocean on May 30, 2019. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

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.

Therefore, the notice explained the government is researching the current technology available as well as capability and qualifications of companies to meet the Navy’s “need to modernize the long-range air delivery of maritime 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 said a 2,000 pound payload at ranges over 100 nautical miles is desired.

Proposed design concepts are allowed to utilize current target detecting, safety and arming devices in the current Quickstrike family of mines.

Beyond detailing capabilities, industry is also 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.

Last year, during a National Defense Industrial Association event, Navy officials said the service was developing new mine capabilities like the Quickstrike Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) (Quickstrike-J), Quickstrike Extended Range (ER), clandestinely delivered mine (CDM) Mk 68, and the Hammerhead mine using an encapsulated Mk 54 torpedo effector (Defense Daily, Oct. 24, 2019).