U.S. Navy contracts EDO Corp. to support unmanned surface vehicle systems

NEW YORK, 5 March 2007.EDO Corporation has received a two-year contract from the U.S. Navy's Surface Warfare Center to support unmanned surface vehicle (USV) systems for littoral combat ship (LCS) mine-warfare missions. The contract has a value of $11 million with an option to extend it through 2011 for an additional $12 million.

EDO will develop new unmanned surface vehicle test models and system prototypes for mine-warfare missions. EDO will also fabricate these models and analyze their integration into littoral combat ship mission modules. USV systems are used in waters where a high-threat level exists.

EDO's engineering, fabrication, and integration work under this contract will support USV sweep, neutralization, and LCS mission-module integration.

The LCS operates with focused-mission packages that deploy manned and unmanned vehicles to execute missions. When equipped with the appropriate mission package, the LCS will conduct mine-warfare operations with on-board and off-board systems from deep water through the beach.

The LCS is the Navy's focal point to transform mine warfare.