General Dynamics Mission Systems has been contracted to develop the Mining Expendable Delivery Uncrewed Submarine Asset (MEDUSA) system for the US Navy.
The competitively awarded contract follows the Request for Proposal issued on 30 September 2024 for the programme. This investment in uncrewed technology is crucial for maintaining maritime dominance and ensuring the preparedness of naval forces in a changing security environment.
The initiative highlights the Navy's aim to create a hybrid fleet of crewed and uncrewed vessels, aimed at boosting operational effectiveness and agility in various maritime environments.
MEDUSA is designed to meet the Navy's specifications for a maritime mining system. It is being built to fulfil upcoming needs for submarine payload delivery.
The system features a MEDUSA medium-class uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) that can be torpedo tube launched from a submarine, supporting equipment, and payloads.
The contract tasks encompass programme management, design, systems engineering, fabrication, and the testing and integration of the MEDUSA system for deployment from Navy submarines.
The initial contract is valued at $15.9m and covers programme management, design, systems engineering, fabrication, testing, and integration activities up to September 2026.
The project could extend until 2032 if the contract options are exercised, taking the potential total contract value to $58m. The US Navy seeks delivery of four prototype units by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026.
The Navy's Unmanned Maritime Systems Programme Office is responsible for the design, development, construction, and delivery of the Navy's uncrewed maritime systems, mine warfare systems, and more.
US Navy Unmanned Maritime Systems Programme Office programme manager Matthew Lewis said: “The award of the MEDUSA contract represents our commitment to advancing unmanned technology and integrating it into Navy operations.
“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.”
