US Navy to acquire and test uncrewed surface vessel prototypes by the end of FY2026
The new autonomous surface vessels are planned to be operationally fielded in FY2027, following the completion of on-water trials.
An Mk 75 76mm gun powered by the Mk 92 fire control system. (Photo USCG)
The DoD announced a new contract that adds- onto Lockheed Martin’s portfolio of awards to support the MK92 systems.
The Mark 92 Fire Control System is a US- made medium-range aircraft missile and gun fire control originally conceived to be fitted onto the US Navy Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates.
Worth $8.1 million plus fixed-fee the contract outlines support in engineering and field services, computer programming and documentation development.
In addition, the contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Taiwan.
The US DoD notes that work will be performed mainly in New Jersey, with a 3% taking place in Taiwan by the end of 2022.
The new autonomous surface vessels are planned to be operationally fielded in FY2027, following the completion of on-water trials.
CPSP competitors are proposing platforms fitted with advanced, next-generation capabilities to be built and sustained in cooperation with the Canadian industry.
While their multibillion-dollar nuclear submarine ambitions move forward at a glacial industrial pace, all three countries are making a swifter bet: fleets of uncrewed vessels that can be built, deployed and iterated in years rather than decades.
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
The USCG plans to award a contract this year for the construction of Homeland Security Cutters. The new vessels will replace the 60-plus-year-old fleet of Light Icebreaking Tugs.
The expansion of the Redstone facility in Alabama will enable Raytheon to increase production of Standard Missiles in the location by 50% and support Washington in refilling stockpiles after recent operations have depleted the Pentagon’s reserves.