US Navy awards contracts for deployment of future mine countermeasures capabilities

The US Navy recently awarded a series of contracts, under Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), to facilitate Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package (MP) deployments.

The MCM Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) is an unmanned, diesel-powered surface craft that can be launched from an LCS, vessel of opportunity, or shore. Its modular flexibility allows integration with multiple payload delivery systems that perform MCM missions, including minesweeping, mine hunting, and mine neutralisation.

The navy awarded the first contract to Bollinger Shipyards for an MCM USV Advanced Material Order (AMO), valued at US$7.7 million, which is scheduled to be completed in September 2025. This contract will procure items needed to improve the MCM USV based on findings from operational testing.

The navy also awarded a production contract for the Minehunt Payload Delivery System (MH PDS) to Raytheon Technologies. This contract is valued at US$18.3 million to produce five units with deliveries by the end of FY26.

Additionally, the navy awarded a production contract for the Minesweep Payload Delivery System (MS PDS) to Textron Systems. This contract is valued at US$12.1 million to produce four units, for delivery early in FY27.