USN chooses contractor support for MK18 UUV upgrades
Upgrades for the MK18 family of UUV systems operated by the USN are being supported by California-based Areté Associates, under a $9.75 million integration services contract announced by the DoD on 24 August.
Work under the 17-month contract from the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, scheduled for completion by 23 January 2022, includes incremental upgrades, block upgrades and future generations of the MK18 family, additional UUVs and ROVs.
Based on the Remus 600 design, the MK18 is a highly configurable vehicle with a maximum operating depth of 600m.
Deployable from vessels as small as an 11m RIB and with a maximum mission duration of 24 hours, the UUV can be outfitted with a broad range of sensors to meet the requirements of missions including MCM, hydrographic survey, area search plus surveillance and reconnaissance.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
DSEI 2023: SpearUAV rolls out drone launcher system for submarines
Israeli UAS developer SpearUAV introduced a submarine-launched capsule option for its Viper 750 UAV at DSEI 2023.
-
DSEI: Milrem displays new versions of THeMIS and reveals plans for larger UGV
Milrem Robotics has now supplied more than 100 of its Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) hybrid UGVs including approximately 15 for service in Ukraine. Lessons learned are continuing to inform the platform’s development, according to the company.
-
Leonardo and UK MoD unveil rotary-wing UAS at DSEI 2023
The design selected for the Rotary Wing Uncrewed Autonomous System is best suited for maritime operations.
-
DSEI 2023: Irish company Reamda develops upgradeable dual-use Casur UGV
Reamda is designing a new SWAT version of its Riddler tactical UGV, to be designated Casur which is Irish for hammer, and designing a smaller lightweight version of its controller.