US DIU taps L3Harris for torpedo tube AUV launch and recovery capability

March 26, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

L3Harris Technologies has been awarded an other transaction authority contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to deliver its torpedo tube launch and recovery (TTLR) system.

As informed, the system enables the deployment and retrieval of the company’s Iver4 900 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) through submarine torpedo tubes.

According to L3Harris, the modular TTLR system multiplies force capacity from existing submarine hulls, eliminating new construction.

The system delivers the first US Navy submarine- and aviation-approved AUV lithium-ion battery technology, enabling longer-duration missions with hot-swap capability for continuous operations.

US and other navies have validated the system to conduct intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, mine detection and seabed warfare missions without surfacing or exposing personnel to risk.

“The Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery system is not a future capability, it’s answering combatant commander needs today,” said Nino DiCosmo, President, Maritime, Space & Mission Systems, L3Harris.

“Our system is the first to successfully launch and recover AUVs from a submarine, providing commanders flexibility for persistent undersea operations and maintaining essential stealth.”

TTLR’s interoperability across multiple submarine classes and allied platforms advances the navy’s manned-unmanned teaming vision and demonstrates AUKUS Pillar 2 collaboration, it was concluded.