UUV Aquabotix has been accepted as a member of the Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP), a consortium focused on advancing information warfare capabilities to enhance US Navy and US Marine Corps mission effectiveness.
Aquabotix was approved to join IWRP as a technology leader with competencies in focus areas for the consortium, including autonomy, assured communications, and battlespace awareness.
As a member of IWRP, Aquabotix will gain access to US Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Command’s Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement, which was previously awarded to the consortium. The aggregate amount of the agreement is US$100 million over the next three years. The OTA will be used as a vehicle to advance information warfare technologies and innovation delivery to the US fleet.
The OTA also enables the consortium members to engage in a broad range of activities advancing such technologies and allows for the delivery of new technology faster and more efficiently than traditional US federal acquisition requirements usually allow.
“The IWRP OTA will accelerate acquisition and bring non-traditional sources, research and development labs, and industry together to provide new, innovative information warfare solutions,” Rear Admiral C.D. Becker, commander of SPAWAR Systems Command, said.
“This mechanism is faster and more attuned to getting something quickly that we want today, as opposed to traditional federal acquisition,” SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic Deputy Executive Director Bill Deligne added. “While speed is a critical element, reaching beyond the traditional DoD industrial base, further into the commercial sector to capture new, innovative solutions, is also a key element of the IWRP.”
“It is a privilege to be joining other industry leaders in the IWRP,” Whitney Million, CEO of Aquabotix, said.
“We anticipate participation in this consortium will provide access to key partners and customers while enabling rapid research and prototyping to support our goal of continuing to develop innovative and leading-edge solutions and product offerings for the US and allied governments.”