Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has secured a contract to provide products and services within the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) Family of Systems (FOS).

SAIC is one of 40 companies that secured the multiple award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract from the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with a ceiling value of $982m.

With a five-year period of performance, the contract can be extended to ten years if all options are exercised.

SAIC executive vice-president and Defense Systems Group general manager Jim Scanlon said: “SAIC is excited to continue this relationship with the navy to support the expansion of unmanned surface vehicles within the navy’s repertoire of technology.”

The company will deliver products and services to the USV FOS functional areas and platforms and systems.

These systems and platforms consist of the US Navy’s future unmanned surface fleet, including payloads, non-payload sensors, mission support systems, autonomy and vehicle control systems, ashore and host platform elements, and logistics and sustainment.

Scanlon added: “Our naval forces need to be machines of modern efficiency. The navy needs to maintain and modernise its technology assets to meet current and future operational requirements. This contract will help them meet this mission.”

In September last year, SAIC won an Office of Naval Research (ONR) contract to deliver an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (ARV) technology demonstrator.

Under the $20.5m contract, the company has been tasked with delivering an advanced, high-technology demonstrator for the ONR and US Marine Corps (USMC).