L3 to Design, Build Prototype of Navy’s Medium USV

The medium displacement Sea Hunter moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Sea Hunter is a precursor to the MUSV that L3 Technologies is now contracted to design and build. U.S. NAVY / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathan Laird

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has selected L3 Technologies to design and build its first medium unmanned surface vehicle (MUSV).

According to a July 13 Defense Department contract announcement, Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded to L3 Technologies Inc. of Camden, New Jersey, a $35 million fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract for the detail design and fabrication of a prototype MUSV.

The MUSV is envisioned as a warship in the Navy’s future family of USVs to augment the fleet with sensor capabilities. It is intended to be an autonomous vessel that will be able to operate with a strike group and be capable of being refueled at sea.

The prototype will be used to develop technology and concepts of operation for USVs and to refine the design for production.

This contract includes options for up to eight additional MUSVs, logistics packages, engineering support, technical data, and other direct costs, which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $281 [million],” the announcement said.

L3 is one of five companies that bid on the contract. Most of its MUSV work will be performed at Morgan City, Louisiana, and the prototype MUSV is expected to be completed by December 2022.