Navy awards contracts to six companies to start preliminary designs for Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy has awarded contracts to six companies to take the first steps in determining what the service’s Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle (LUSV) will look like. USNI News reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
17 Sept. 2020 -- After adjusting its acquisition approach to adhere to congressional code, the Navy today announced $42 million in contracts for LUSV studies, with Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.; Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Va.; Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis.; Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La.; Lockheed Martin Corp. in Bethesda, Md.; and Gibbs & Cox Maritime Solutions in Arlington, Va. Each contractor won about $7 million to kick off work on the program.
The Navy anticipates the companies finishing the work by August 2021, but options could extend the work to May 2022. The contracts’ total value with options is $59.5 million.
The LUSV studies will refine requirements, explore alternative design approaches, find ways to improve reliability, and plan for electronics, electrical and mechanical systems.
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
