The US Navy has contracted Leidos to manage, operate, and maintain the service’s Overlord test ships and medium unmanned surface vessels (USV).
The task order will run for one year and includes a two-year additional option. The contract can reach approximately $95 million if all options are exercised.
“The Leidos team has unmatched experience and expertise in autonomous vessel design and operations, delivering four operational medium-sized USV platforms to the Navy so far,” Leidos Defense President Gerry Fasano stated.
“We look forward to helping the Navy accelerate this important work and providing new capabilities at the tip of the spear.”
An ‘Important Journey’
The drone ships in the project are used to evaluate concepts and existing capabilities, such as command and control systems, for future autonomy at sea.
Further experimentation is being conducted to continue the vessels’ maturation.
Once completed, the ships will be configured to meet US Navy mission requirements. Applications include anti-surface warfare, logistics, and strike operations.
Several drone ships from Leidos are already in service with the navy, including the Sea Hunter, Mariner, Seahawk, and Ranger.
“This task order starts an important phase in the Navy’s evolution of USVs and integrating them into distributed maritime operations,” Leidos Defense Senior Vice President Dave Lewis said.
“The power of this technology lies in its ability to operate independently and extend the horizon of crewed ships. We look forward to supporting the Navy as they continue this important journey into the future.”
Ghost Fleet Overlord Program
The US Navy USVs are part of Ghost Fleet Overlord, a prototyping program launched in 2018 to integrate multi-mission crewless ships into the fleet.
The large USVs will measure more than 50 meters to meet endurance and organic payload requirements.
Most of the ships will be based on commercial designs and be “low cost, high endurance, and reconfigurable” assets of the surface force.
In 2021, the US Department of Defense conducted a fire test from a Ranger USV using an SM-6 multi-mission terminal ballistic missile.