US Navy to Develop New Ground Replay System to Enhance Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities.

On June 5, 2025, the United States Department of Defense awarded a $12.88 million contract to the American company RTX BBN Technologies Inc., based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The contract covers the design, development, integration, and testing of a new engineering tool known as the Ground Replay System (GRS), aimed at enhancing the U.S. Navy’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.
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The Ground Replay System will be deployed at shore-based analysis centers to replay, visualize, and process mission data, including acoustic, radar, and other sensor inputs, collected by ASW aircraft (Picture source: US DoD)

Amid growing strategic competition with China and Russia, the U.S. Navy continues to invest in technological tools to sustain its undersea operational edge. The GRS program is part of this modernization effort, particularly for ASW missions conducted by aerial platforms. The system's main function will be to collect, analyze, and replay mission data for tactical assessment, training, and operational development purposes.

The contract awarded to RTX BBN includes not only the design and testing of the system but also its installation, integration with Navy systems, and training for end users. The company is also tasked with developing technical documentation and creating training programs for the fleet. Funding has been partially allocated under the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, and the work is scheduled to continue through June 2030.

RTX BBN, a subsidiary of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), is known for its work in acoustic signal processing, multi-sensor analysis, and advanced defense software development. The company has specific experience in maritime detection and data analysis systems, and this contract consolidates its role in the development of future naval technologies.

The Ground Replay System is not an onboard system but a land-based tool designed for use by Navy analysts, instructors, and technical personnel. It will be deployed at shore-based analysis centers to replay, visualize, and process mission data, including acoustic, radar, and other sensor inputs, collected by ASW aircraft. The system will also be used to support training programs by reconstructing real mission scenarios, as well as for operational testing of new ASW platforms, sensors, and tactics.

The GRS is expected to be integrated into facilities such as NAS Patuxent River in Maryland or NAS Whidbey Island in Washington, and to support maritime patrol squadrons operating platforms like the P-8A Poseidon and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

Awarded without competition, the contract reflects both the exclusive technical capabilities of BBN and the Pentagon’s intent to shorten development timelines for systems considered critical. Anti-submarine warfare remains a central element of U.S. naval strategy, particularly as rival states invest in quieter, more autonomous submarines capable of operating in contested environments.

The new GRS will add to the Navy’s ASW capabilities by providing advanced tools for post-mission analysis, contributing to operational preparation, tactical evaluation, and improved situational awareness in undersea domains. In a strategic environment where control of deep-sea areas is again becoming a priority, innovation in undersea warfare systems continues to be a key objective. RTX BBN is positioned to play a central role in the implementation of this capability.