Textron Systems Corporation has secured a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit of the US Department of Defense to produce and deliver several uncrewed surface vessels for use by the US Navy.
These assets are intended to support the fleet experimentation exercise in Key West and participate in three months of joint operations with Southcom and the US Navy Fourth Fleet.
The agreement specifies that the company will provide long-dwell interceptor vessels alongside field service representatives to demonstrate cooperative intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting. This testing involves an autonomous aircraft system operating from a littoral combat ship.
Surface warfare capabilities involving manned and unmanned elements will be evaluated using the surface-to-air kinetic engagement system provided by Invariant Corporation.
Textron Systems noted that the craft utilises hull designs from Brunswick Corporation integrated with an autonomy control system.
Senior Vice President Air, Land and Sea Systems Ryan Schaffernocker stated the award creates a foundation for government-owned and contractor-operated services to enable rapid deployment at a lower cost for the navy.