The US Navy already has medium-sized unmanned surface vessels but this new programme has represented the first step towards a potential large capability.
Leidos has won a $95 million contract from the USN to manage and maintain the Overlord and Medium USVs, an effort which will accelerate the integration of autonomous vessel capabilities.
Composite hull of Seahawk, pictured during construction. (Photo: Leidos)
The design of the Seahawk medium USV reflects lessons learned from the predecessor Sea Hunter vessel.
Leidos announced on 7 April that it has delivered its Seahawk autonomous Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) to the USN.
It joins the USN Surface Development Squadron One (SURFDEVRON) in San Diego, California.
Seahawk was built under a $35.5 million contract awarded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in December 2017.
The result is a ‘forward-deployed and rapid-response asset in the global maritime surveillance network,’ Leidos noted in a 7 April statement.
Seahawk (originally known as Sea Hunter II) is a long-range autonomous surface vessel with a composite trimaran hull. The MUSV displaces 145t and its twin diesel engines carry up to 14,000 gallons of fuel.