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The US Navy Command is closely monitoring the expansion of a key contract for the study and development of new equipment and technologies for its future fleet of unmanned surface vehicles. They have been trying to implement this task for more than a year. This project is useful not only for the US Navy, but also gives the industry the opportunity to get direct access to research and development work done, let's say, in the bowels of the department itself.
In a public notice, the US Navy said it plans to re-start cooperation with companies interested in equipping their USVs with various intelligent technologies. This was first announced in February 2020.
In the same year 2020, 40 suppliers were selected to conclude an indefinite contract with an unlimited number of specifications. The contracts, called IDIQ-MAC, allow US authorities to create isolated markets by selecting a group of companies capable of performing a similar set of tasks. After that, the selected suppliers compete directly with each other for work related to this contract.
— the notice on the official website of the US Navy says dryly.
In addition, the contract includes measures for the development of technologies focused on autonomous systems and control systems for surface unmanned ships, elements of the coastal and base platform, as well as logistics and support. All commercial proposals and preliminary projects must be received by the customer no later than December 19.
The resumption of the procedure for financing the project of unmanned vessels in the United States fell at the end of the year is not accidental. This is happening precisely at the moment when the Navy has made some progress in promoting the foundations of its future unmanned fleet, starting with the launch of exercises in the Middle East and ending with the commissioning of one of its leading research vessels, dubbed Mariner. Well, the development of the 800 billion military budget clearly plays an important role here.