令和8年度、9年度運用試験（水中武器）／OZZ-100: Japan procurement notice

Development and reported outcome

On March 23, 2026, JMSDF Yokosuka District Headquarters solicited contract candidates for FY2026-FY2027 operational-test support involving the OZZ-100 underwater unmanned vehicle. The requirement covers technical capability and UUV operating knowledge needed to support underwater-weapon operational testing. Applications closed April 13, and the notice does not establish that the operational test itself had already occurred or disclose a tender-stage value.[S1] [S2]

Program, platform and stakeholders

Programme or contract: 令和8年度、9年度運用試験（水中武器）／OZZ-100. Platform or product: OZZ-100. Platform classification: Autonomous Operated Vehicle. Recorded supplier, developer or relevant organization: JMSDF Yokosuka District Headquarters (reported headquarters/country: Japan). Recorded customer, operator or intended user: JMSDF / Maritime Systems Development-related testing organization (reported headquarters/country: Japan).[S1] [S2]

Mission and technical scope

The following are classifications recorded in the source master, not additional claims of operational deployment: Mission/use-case classification: Operational testing / underwater warfare.

Contract, value and shipment signals

Original-currency label: JPY. Recorded quantity, delivery, demonstration or volume signal: Service requirement; vehicle quantity not stated. Delivery schedule, procurement window or milestone status: Status as of Aug. 31, 2026: Closed – Evaluation/selection status not publicly confirmed; bid/application deadline: Apr. 13, 2026. Recorded contractual end: Apr. 13, 2026.[S1] [S2]

Source verification and interpretation limits

UXV Searcher master source-coverage note: Official JMSDF solicitation explicitly names OZZ-100 and operational-test support. It is a service solicitation, not evidence of completed operational testing.

Interpretation boundary: The tender, notice or request stage does not by itself prove a signed contract, selected supplier, or physical delivery.[S1] [S2]

UXV Searcher analysis — what the development changes

UXV Searcher interpretation — procurement requirement / tender: The Japan UUV record for 令和8年度、9年度運用試験（水中武器）／OZZ-100 is best treated as a procurement pipeline signal. A published requirement can indicate addressable demand, but it is not an award, supplier revenue, shipment, or fleet increase.

Traceability for buyers: The dataset associates JMSDF Yokosuka District Headquarters with JMSDF / Maritime Systems Development-related testing organization for OZZ-100. This supports stakeholder mapping; supply-chain tier, exclusivity and signed-customer relationships need the underlying source before firm classification.

Client-use interpretation: For intelligence users tracking Operational testing / underwater warfare, the relevant next proof points are underwater mission readiness, subsea navigation and operator acceptance. Track the award notice, signed value and accepted delivery quantities before upgrading this demand signal.[S1] [S2]

Quantitative evidence, calculations and limits

Quantity/scope signal: Service requirement; vehicle quantity not stated. Counting rule: Requested scope; not a delivery or award total. Delivery/timing evidence: Status as of Aug. 31, 2026: Closed – Evaluation/selection status not publicly confirmed; bid/application deadline: Apr. 13, 2026. Scheduling language is not independently proof of completion or acceptance.

Quantified requirements are potential procurement scope, not realised hardware orders or sales.[S1] [S2]