Autonomous: "U.S. Navy Awards $1B in Contracts for Unmanned Surface Vessel Program"

From Marine Executive:

The U.S. Navy has awarded nearly $1 billion worth of contracts to a group of 40 firms for work on its unmanned surface vehicle programs.

The businesses on the list will have the chance to compete for individual delivery orders between now and February 2025, with an optional contract extension that would take the funding period out through 2030. For this fiscal year, the contract is effectively a placeholder: FY2019 R&D funding of just $1,000 per company is obligated under each contract's initial order.

Pinched by budget and manning realities, the U.S. Navy is contemplating a shift towards unmanned surface vessels to augment its fleet in the years ahead....

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