US shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the first three mine countermeasures unmanned surface vehicles (MCM USVs) to the US Navy.
The MCM USVs are designed to perform minesweeping, mine hunting, and mine neutralization tasks. These operations were previously carried out by manned MCM-1 class ships and MH-53E helicopters, which are being retired.
By operating without a crew, the MCM USV aims to reduce the risk to personnel in dangerous mine-threatened waters.
Each MCM USV is equipped with multiple payload delivery systems (PDSs). These include systems for minesweeping and mine hunting, with the capability to integrate future payloads such as mine neutralization technologies. All PDSs are designed to work with the main MCM USV platform.
Bollinger Shipyards is building the MCM USVs at its facility in Lockport, Louisiana. The current contract with the Navy includes nine vessels, with options for an additional eighteen.
“Bollinger is proud to deliver the first three full-rate production MCM USVs to the U.S. Navy,” said Ben Bordelon , President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards.
“This milestone demonstrates Bollinger’s ability to deliver highly complex, next-generation capabilities that meet the evolving needs of our naval forces. We’re honored to play a critical role in supporting the Navy’s future force and are proud of our skilled workforce, which makes this possible.”
In February this year, the US Navy awarded a contract to Bollinger Shipyards for the MCM USV advanced material order (AMO), valued at $7.7 million. This contract, expected to be completed by September 2025, will procure the necessary materials to improve the MCM USV based on operational testing findings.