US Domestic — 2026-10-02

Navy Awards 1.2 Billion Dollar Contract for 30 Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels to Three Louisiana Shipyards

BLUFScaling three shipyards from prototype-level autonomy tests to serial production of 30 hulls by late fiscal 2027 compresses timelines that carry both industrial and legal risk.

The Navy awarded production Other Transaction Authority agreements on Tuesday to Saronic Technologies, HII, and Galliano Marine Services, each covering 10 medium unmanned surface vessels at an average of $40 million per vessel 12. The Navy did not specify individual award values, and the 30-hull total works out to about $1.2 billion 23. Acting DRPM RAS Chris Miller told reporters production begins immediately at Louisiana yards in Loreauville, Houma, and Franklin, with deliveries starting as early as the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027 23. Leidos, PacMar, and Sea Machines will each receive $15 million and join the Drones.mil marketplace, while USNI News reported Birdon did not meet testing parameters 12. The Navy issued a Phase II call for solutions on September 23, and Blue Water Autonomy and Saildrone's suit over Phase I selection remains pending 13.

Analysis
The Navy now has a funded path to its first operational medium USV fleet, and the question shifts from selection to delivery. Fourth-quarter fiscal 2027 deliveries depend on three Louisiana yards scaling designs that have completed only a roughly 26-hour, 360-nautical-mile autonomy test. The Phase II call, with testing as early as November 16 and rolling assessments over five years, shows the Navy is diversifying beyond these three vendors. Pending litigation from Blue Water Autonomy and Saildrone leaves unquantified procedural risk to the award structure. The awards may instead reflect pressure to obligate One Big Beautiful Bill Act funds, with the $40 million average masking uneven pricing and less mature designs. Reporting traces to one Navy release and roundtable, so confidence in program claims is moderate.

4 sources

Navy to Procure 30 Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels Following Completion of Phase I At-Sea Testing - U.S. Navy
3 Louisiana Shipyards to Build 30 Drone Ships in $1.2B Navy MUSV Deal - USNI News
Navy Orders 30 Drone Ships To Finally Advance Its 'Medium' Uncrewed Vessel Ambitions - The War Zone
US Navy taps 3 firms to build MUSVs for around $40M per vessel - Military Times