The US Navy has awarded contracts to study the possibility of adding large unmanned vessels to its fleet. The firm-fixed price contracts total nearly $42 million, and have been awarded to six companies including Huntington Ingalls, Lockheed Martin, Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, Marinette Marine Corp.; Gibbs & Cox; and Austal USA following an open competition. The contracts were established to refine specifications and requirements for a Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) and conduct reliability studies informed by industry partners prior to competition of a Detail Design and Construction contract. The LUSV program was established to support the Navy’s Future Surface Combatant Force through the development and fielding of low-cost, high-endurance, unmanned vehicles that complement manned surface combatants.
