U.S. Navy Selects Lockheed Martin To Deliver Large Unmanned Surface Vessel Study

Lockheed Martin will provide a study for a proven, integrated and capable payload ship, able to patrol for extended durations, as part of the U.S. Navy’s Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) competition. Lockheed Martin is partnering with Portland-based Vigor Works, LLC as the team’s shipbuilder. As prime contractor, Lockheed Martin will manage the program, deliver platform integration, systems engineering, combat management, automation and cyber solutions.


Lockheed Martin will provide a study for a proven, integrated and capable payload ship, able to patrol for extended durations, as part of the U.S. Navy’s Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) competition. Lockheed Martin is partnering with Portland-based Vigor Works, LLC as the team’s shipbuilder. As prime contractor, Lockheed Martin will manage the program, deliver platform integration, systems engineering, combat management, automation and cyber solutions.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Illustration picture of LUSV. (Picture source: US Navy)


The Lockheed Martin team’s design uses a proven commercial ship that will be augmented with automation, autonomy and cybersecurity elements to house a payload. The design leverages Lockheed Martin’s autonomy and automation experience, including our proven platform-agnostic Sikorsky MATRIX™ technology that’s been used to fly a helicopter from a wireless tablet, and our AXIS™ control technology, used on more than half of U.S. Navy surface ships to manage engineering and machinery controls.

Under the $7 million contract, Lockheed Martin will deliver the study within 12 months in advance of the next phase of the competition – the Navy’s LUSV Detailed Design & Construction competition.

The Navy’s vision for USVs will enable the fleet to fight as a distributed, networked and more lethal force. USVs will provide extended presence across the globe with reduced risk to sailors and increased obstacles and complications for adversaries.


U.S. Navy Selects Lockheed Martin To Deliver Large Unmanned Surface Vessel Study 925 002Silhouette of LUSV. (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)


U.S. Navy LUSV Program:

The LUSV program supports the Navy’s Future Surface Combatant Force architecture through the development and fielding of low-cost, high-endurance, unmanned vehicles that complement manned surface combatants.

The LUSV will be a high-endurance, reconfigurable ship able to accommodate various payloads for unmanned missions to augment the Navy’s manned surface force. With a large payload capacity, the LUSV will be designed to conduct a variety of warfare operations independently or in conjunction with manned surface combatants.

The LUSV will be capable of semi-autonomous or fully autonomous operation, with operators in-the-loop (controlling remotely) or on-the-loop (enabled through autonomy). All weapons employment will be commanded remotely by manned warships or control stations.