The US Navy has awarded a contract to General Dynamics Mission Systems to develop the Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset (MEDUSA) system.
MEDUSA is a mining system utilizing an expendable unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) that can be deployed from a submarine. It is an unmanned system designed to meet the navy’s requirement for an advanced maritime mining system.
The tasks under this contract include program management, design, systems engineering, fabrication, and testing and integration of the MEDUSA system for employment from the navy submarines.
“The award of the MEDUSA contract represents our commitment to advancing unmanned technology and integrating it into Navy operations,” said Capt. Matthew Lewis , program manager of the unmanned maritime systems program office.
“Innovation is critical to our national security and directly contributes to the readiness of our fleet. This contract enables us to invest in future operational capabilities and to push the boundaries of what we thought possible.”
The base contract, currently valued at $15.9 million, will provide for program management, design, systems engineering, fabrication, testing and integration activities through September 2026.
However, if contract options are exercised, work will continue through 2032 and the total contract value could reach $58 million.
“MEDUSA is an exciting leap forward for our Navy, aligning with CNO’s updated NAVPLAN and the evolving nature of warfare,” said Rear. Adm. Kevin Smith , Program Executive Officer, Unmanned and Small Combatants.
“This innovative mining system enhances our capabilities, allowing us to stay one step ahead in a rapidly changing environment.”