The U.S. Navy has opened an industry request for information for the Silent Anvil Air-Launched Torpedo, a next-generation anti-submarine warfare weapon designed to let crewed and uncrewed aircraft strike enemy submarines from a distance.
Next-Generation Anti-Submarine Concept
According to a public notice posted by the Naval Air Systems Command under solicitation number N00019-27-RFI-PMX201-SILENTANVIL, the Silent Anvil program aims to provide a compact standoff weapon. The platform glides through the air before entering the water to attack a target submarine. NAVAIR is conducting the market research effort on behalf of the Navy’s Strike Weapons Program Office.
The program is structured as a rapid-prototyping and requirements-shaping initiative rather than an immediate production contract or funded program award. Industry responses to the request for information are due by September 29, 2026, following an industry day slated for September 17. The notice suggests that potential follow-on agreements could utilize rapid-prototyping mechanisms, such as Other Transaction Authority pathways through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium.
Design Paths and Technical Specifications
NAVAIR is examining two distinct design paths for the Silent Anvil concept. The first option is a complete, integrated air-launched torpedo system developed by a contractor to handle both the aerial glide and the underwater terminal phase. The second option focuses on an unpowered glide-wing kit designed to carry a government-furnished torpedo, a methodology similar to the existing High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability that pairs a Boeing air-launch accessory with the Mk 54 lightweight torpedo.
Dimensional constraints outlined in the notice restrict the weapon to a maximum form factor of 268 pounds in weight, 70 inches in length, and 7.5 inches in diameter. These specifications align the weapon with the size of the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb and ensure compatibility with the standard BRU-61/A bomb rack. By matching these dimensions, the Navy intends to allow both internal and external carriage across a broader inventory of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, with the notice also noting potential utility for the U.S. Air Force.
Operational Envelope and Capabilities
The Navy is testing the weapon concept across a broad launch envelope, with requested launch-speed points set at Mach 0.25, 0.50, and 0.85, and altitude bands stretching from 10 feet to 60,000 feet. Officials stated a performance goal to maximize aerial flight endurance while minimizing aquatic immersion time for the torpedo.
The system’s flight components are expected to include a wing kit, a radio equipped with an aperture, and guidance and control mechanisms, while the torpedo itself will house an acoustic sensor, a warhead, a command-and-control section, and an electric propulsion system. To support networked operations, the weapon must integrate with military tactical command-and-control tools and utilize the standard Small-Form-Factor Weapon Attritable Radio Multi-Mode software-defined radio for beyond-line-of-sight communications.
The Navy’s current timeline outlines a demonstration of an end-to-end prototype capability within 18 months of an agreement award, followed by the delivery of approximately 180 all-up rounds within three years of a successful demonstration.
