The US Navy announced production other transaction authority (OTA) agreements for 30 medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSV) on September 29 following phase one at-sea testing.
Galliano Marine Services and HII will each build 10 vessels, with Saronic Technologies also receiving a 10-vessel order.
The navy put the average procurement cost at $40 million per vessel, with the first deliveries due before the end of fiscal 2027.
Christopher Miller, who is acting as the navy's direct reporting portfolio manager for robotic and autonomous systems, said production will begin immediately at shipyards in Louisiana.
“The phase one production awards were based on the optimal mix of autonomy performance, design, production schedule and cost,” Miller said.
Phase one testing assessed autonomous navigation under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. Miller said the endurance demonstration required roughly 26 hours over more than 360 nautical miles, allowing only one input from a command-and-control station.
The navy also opened a follow-on phase two call for solutions on September 23 to widen the range of vessels and suppliers eligible for future orders.
Phase two permits vessels up to 90 metres long, capable of at least 10 days of unmanned operation and carrying at least two standard 20-foot containers. Phase one required at least two 40-foot containers. Phase two also removes earlier requirements for high speed and at-sea refuelling.
Approved platforms can be listed in a maritime marketplace on drones.mil, where authorised acquisition authorities can place follow-on orders.
Miller said evaluations could begin as early as November 16, with proposals reviewed continuously over the following five years.
The navy selected seven companies for phase one demonstrations in May.
Successful test completion earned participants a US$15 million payment and made their vessels eligible for production agreements.
