Leidos Secures Potential $358M Contract to Develop Unmanned Undersea Vehicle

The Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded engineering and IT company Leidos a potential $358 million contract to design and build a medium-size unmanned undersea vehicle.

The MUUV must support intelligence preparation and provide submarine-based autonomous oceanographic sensing and data collection. It should also provide surface-launched and recovered mine countermeasures.

Leidos will work with L3Harris Technologies and other partners to develop the vehicle.

Work will be performed primarily in Lynwood, Washington, Leidos said Monday.

Mike Rickels, senior vice president of C4ISR solutions at Leidos, said the company will use its experience in fielding unmanned technologies and knowledge of the Navy’s fleet to produce the UUV. Rosemary Chapdelaine, president of L3Harris’ Maritime sector, shared that the UUV will be outfitted with the Iver system, which provides advanced and agile capabilities.

Chapdelaine also discussed how L3Harris and Leidos worked together on previous efforts to recover autonomous unmanned vehicles using a submarine torpedo tube.

Leidos offers digital modernization, cyber operations, integrated missions and mission-related services to clients in the defense, intelligence, homeland security and federal government sectors. It is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and has offices within and outside the U.S.

L3Harris Technologies offers autonomous systems, command and control, electronic warfare and missile warning and defense solutions to clients in the defense, civilian and commercial sectors. It is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, and has offices within and outside the U.S.