US Navy Awards Contract for Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle Prototype.

The US Navy on July 13, 2020, awarded a $34,999,948 contract to L3 Harris Technologies, Inc. for the development of a single Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) prototype, with options to procure up to eight additional MUSVs. The award follows a full and open competitive procurement process.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

The DARPA Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program full-scale Sea Hunter demonstration vehicle, used for modelling as a Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV). (Picture source: DARPA)

Funding is in place on this contract for the initial prototype. With all options exercised, the contract is valued at $294,508,976 if additional funding is provided in future budget years.

The MUSV program will provide pier-launched, self-deploying, modular, open architecture surface vessels capable of autonomous navigation and mission execution. MUSVs will support the Navy's ability to produce, deploy and disburse intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and electronic warfare capabilities, and provide/improve distributed situational awareness and sensing to the battle force.

Delivery of this first prototype is expected in early FY23. The president’s 2021 budget request for the Navy includes additional funding for a second MUSV prototype in FY23. The acquisition strategy for the FY23 vessel is to be determined, however, for flexibility, the development contract contains options for additional USVs.

Accelerating unmanned surface vehicle and payload development and warfighting integration will provide an inflexion point in delivering a more distributed force in support of the National Defense Strategy.